My primary focus of interest is in political U.S. twentieth-century history. The political ethos which developed during the Great Depression was a result of Progressive Era understandings of social welfare. However, Franklin D. Roosevelt and his contemporaries had their own unique understanding of social welfare distinct from that of the Progressive Era. The New Deal forever changed the relationship between the American citizen and his government. Additionally, new political understandings resulting from the New Deal serve as the modern political framework through which the current American government operates. It is through this dynamic era in history that much of my research interests are incited.
I am currently working on an independent research project to better understand the relationship between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Alfred E. Smith. I expect the project to be completed in the fall, 2014. Please contact me at stewhistory@gmail.com if you would like to learn more about the details of my project.
Brent G. Stewart 