The 1936 presidential election in the United States was the 38th quadrennial, held on Tuesday, November 3, 1936. During the Great Depression, incumbent Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Republican Kansas, Governor Alf Landon. But did you know why this particular election is noted in history?
The 1936 presidential election, in which Roosevelt received 98.49% of the total electoral vote, was the highest percentage of the electoral vote won by any candidate since 1820.
The Greatest Presidential Victory
The 1936 presidential election was largely fought between Franklin Roosevelt of the Democratic Party and Alf Landon of the Republican Party.
Franklin Roosevelt single-handedly dug the economy out of the grave during his presidency. He helped it by providing relief, recovery, and reform. It is the reason for 8-hour workdays, social security, and the minimum wage.
People supported Franklin Roosevelt’s efforts as the depression persisted. He won the election by one of the most significant margins in American history. Roosevelt received 523 electoral votes, while Landon received only 8. Yikes.
Roosevelt’s political opponents faced an uphill battle to unseat the popular president. The comparatively conservative Republican Party, also known as the Grand Old Party, or GOP, believed that because depression conditions remained, Americans would turn against FDR. They reasoned that New Deal programs might be well-liked, but the Great Depression still hung heavily over the land. For this reason, Republicans were cautiously optimistic. (Source: Study)
America’s Hope, The New Deal
It started the 1936 presidential election year and the current US Even though the country was still in the grip of the Great Depression, and Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt was very popular with the public. A campaign poster depicted FDR’s smiling face with the words A Real Depression Buster. Surrounding Roosevelt on the poster were the acronyms of the numerous government agencies established by his administration to assist those suffering from the depression. His New Deal reform program was synonymous with government activism and aimed to bring hope and assistance to America.
Millions of people were unemployed, homeless, or hungry due to the Great Depression. Farm prices were at an all-time low. Banks have closed their doors. Workers had no say. The situation was dire. When FDR took office in 1933, he created dozens of New Deal government programs to address these issues.
The Republican Party nominated Kansas Governor Alfred Landon to be their presidential candidate. Landon was more liberal than the rest of his party, supporting some New Deal programs. Governor Landon, on the other hand, was moderate in comparison to FDR.
He emphasized mainstream proposals to balance the federal budget. The New Deal was rapidly spending public funds and reducing government red tape. The Republicans were optimistic because Landon had the backing of some members of the president’s party, particularly conservative Democrats who believed the New Deal had gone too far. Landon’s nickname was ‘Alf,’ which isn’t exactly presidential.
Millions of people were unemployed, homeless, or hungry due to the Great Depression. Farm prices were at an all-time low. Banks have closed their doors. Workers had no say. The situation was dire. When FDR took office in 1933, he created dozens of New Deal government programs to address these issues.
Though these and other programs did not end the depression, they were popular with most Americans, gave them hope for better times, and demonstrated that FDR was doing anything to help them in their darkest days. (Source: Study)
Image from Almanac.UcPenn