AMSCO Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH) Practice Exam

Eleanor Roosevelt's most significant independent stance against President Franklin Roosevelt was her vocal opposition to racial discrimination. Throughout her life, she notably championed civil rights, using her platform to advocate for greater equality for African Americans at a time when the national conversation was often dominated by segregationist policies. While Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal programs brought some relief to the American public during the Great Depression, they did not adequately address the issues of racism and discrimination.

Eleanor's commitment to civil rights was evident through her participation in events like the 1939 resignation from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) due to their refusal to allow African American singer Marian Anderson to perform at Constitution Hall. Additionally, she worked closely with African American leaders and sought to include their voices in policy discussions, often clashing with her husband's administration when it fell short on racial justice issues. This demonstrated her willingness to take a stand on moral grounds, even when it meant confronting her husband's political agenda and risking political capital, highlighting her role as a leader in the fight against racial injustice.