Rachel Reville
Research Topic
The impact of US President F.D. Roosevelt and the policies of the New Deal on perceptions of America amongst the British left in the 1930s and 1940s.
Supervisor: Dr Ben Jackson
Franklin Roosevelt faced not one but two formidable crises during his time in the Oval Office. Winning an unprecedented four election victories, his first task was to salvage the American economy from the depths of the Great Depression before going on to lead the country to victory during World War II. His progressive package of recovery policies known as the New Deal was keenly observed overseas, not least in Britain.
However, while Anglo-American histories of the period often choose to focus on the relationship between Roosevelt and Churchill, this study charts the lesser-understood links between FDR and the British left. Ultimately it seeks to analyse the impact that this extraordinary President and his policies had on the perception of America in contemporary British left-wing circles.
Research interests
- The Presidency of Franklin Roosevelt
- The life of Eleanor Roosevelt
- The nature & origins of the USA-UK Special Relationship
- Social, economic & political developments in twentieth century America
- Labour Party History
- British Politics from 1900
Media
Britain and the New Deal by Rachel Reville on Vimeo
6A. The Special Relationship in the Early-Twentieth Century - Media Hopper Create
