The Crisis of the Old Order

The Crisis of the Old Order chronicles America from 1919-1933, focusing on the social and political forces that led to the Great Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelt's rise. The book captures the tension between progressive reformers and conservative business interests during this pivotal period. The narrative traces key events and figures of the 1920s, including Presidents Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover, while examining the economic policies and cultural shifts that defined the era. Through detailed accounts of political battles and social movements, Schlesinger reconstructs the buildup to the stock market crash and its aftermath. FDR emerges as a central figure in the latter portion of the book, as Schlesinger documents his early career and evolution as a political leader. The text follows Roosevelt's path from his time as governor of New York through his presidential campaign. This first volume in Schlesinger's Age of Roosevelt series presents a study of institutional failure and the limits of laissez-faire capitalism. The work examines how economic crisis forced Americans to reevaluate their fundamental assumptions about government's role in society.

Readers value this book as a detailed account of American society and politics leading up to the New Deal. They highlight Schlesinger's thorough research and ability to weave economic, social, and political threads into a clear narrative. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of complex economic concepts - Rich biographical details about FDR - Connection of 1920s events to the Great Depression Common criticisms: - Liberal bias in analysis - Dense academic writing style - Too much focus on minutiae of politics - Slow pacing in middle sections One reader noted: "Schlesinger excels at showing how Progressive Era reforms set the stage for FDR's policies, but his partisan stance undermines objectivity." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (437 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (89 ratings) The book scores highest among history students and New Deal enthusiasts, lower among casual readers seeking a quick overview of the era.

The Age of Roosevelt: The Coming of the New Deal by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. This volume continues Schlesinger's examination of the Roosevelt era through the implementation of early New Deal programs and economic recovery efforts.

Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World by Liaquat Ahamed The book traces the actions of four central bankers whose decisions in the 1920s contributed to the Great Depression.

Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War by David M. Kennedy This comprehensive study examines the transformation of American society through the Great Depression and World War II.

The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope by Jonathan Alter This account focuses on Roosevelt's first hundred days in office and the rapid creation of New Deal programs.

The Great Depression: America 1929-1941 by Robert S. McElvaine The book presents the economic collapse and recovery of the 1930s through the experiences of ordinary Americans and political leaders.

🔷 The book is the first volume in Schlesinger's "The Age of Roosevelt" series, which took him over 20 years to complete and won him the Bancroft Prize in American History. 🔷 Arthur Schlesinger Jr. served as a special assistant to President John F. Kennedy and wrote "A Thousand Days," a Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the Kennedy administration. 🔷 The book covers the period leading up to the Great Depression and FDR's presidency (1919-1933), with Schlesinger writing much of it while serving as a professor at Harvard University. 🔷 When Schlesinger began the Roosevelt series in the late 1940s, he had unprecedented access to FDR's papers through Eleanor Roosevelt, who admired his previous historical work. 🔷 The author wrote this comprehensive work while still in his early 30s, making him one of the youngest historians to undertake such an ambitious project about recent American history.