The term signifies a broad alignment of diverse groups that supported Franklin D. Roosevelt’s response to the Great Depression. This alignment encompassed organized labor, farmers, urban ethnic groups, African Americans, and white Southerners. This political partnership provided the foundation for Democratic Party dominance in American politics for several decades. Its influence extended to shaping national policy priorities and solidifying a particular approach to governance centered on social welfare and federal intervention in the economy.
The significance of this political alignment lies in its ability to enact sweeping legislative changes during a time of national crisis. It provided Roosevelt with the necessary political capital to implement programs addressing unemployment, agricultural distress, and financial instability. The coalition’s long-term impact includes establishing a framework for social security, labor rights, and infrastructure development. The historical context reveals a realignment of traditional political affiliations, driven by the economic hardships of the 1930s and the perceived failure of previous administrations to adequately address the crisis.
