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The first priority Franklin Delano Roosevelt set as president to mitigate the effects of the Great Depression was to

Rationale

Declare a bank holiday and support the passage of emergency banking legislation.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's initial action upon taking office was to declare a nationwide bank holiday, which allowed banks to close temporarily and stabilize the banking system. This critical step aimed to restore public confidence in the financial institutions and was followed by the Emergency Banking Act, which provided for the reopening of solvent banks and reformed the banking system.

A (declare a bank holiday and support the passage of emergency banking legislation) CORRECT

This choice accurately reflects Roosevelt's first priority, which was to address the immediate banking crisis. By halting all banking operations, he aimed to prevent further bank failures and set the stage for the reforms necessary to stabilize the economy.

B (establish the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to provide jobs for the unemployed) YOUR ANSWER

While the WPA was an essential component of Roosevelt's New Deal aimed at creating jobs and alleviating unemployment, it was not his first action. The WPA was established later in 1935, after initial measures such as the bank holiday had already been implemented to address the immediate crisis of the Great Depression.

C (affirm the right of labor to bargain collectively by signing the Wagner Act) YOUR ANSWER

The Wagner Act, signed in 1935, was significant for labor rights but was not Roosevelt's first priority. His initial focus was on stabilizing the economy and the banking system rather than labor relations, which came afterward as part of the broader New Deal reforms.

D (pack the Supreme Court with likely supporters of the New Deal) YOUR ANSWER

This option refers to Roosevelt's later proposal in 1937 to add more justices to the Supreme Court, which was a controversial move aimed at securing support for New Deal legislation. However, this was not an immediate action taken to combat the Great Depression upon his inauguration.

Conclusion

Roosevelt's declaration of a bank holiday and support for emergency banking legislation marked a decisive first step in his presidency to combat the Great Depression. This action prioritized restoring public faith in the banking system before implementing broader economic reforms, such as job creation and labor rights. Understanding this timeline is crucial for grasping the foundational strategies of the New Deal and Roosevelt's response to the economic crisis.

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