Question

what does roosevelt mean by the difference between the definition of liberty that has existed in the past and his own “broader definition of liberty”? roosevelt felt that his new deal walked a fine line between too much government and too little. roosevelt believed that the definition of liberty that prevailed in the past had led free people to be controlled by the power of the government. he wanted to avoid this. roosevelt equated freedom with economic security and independence, and rejected the liberty of contract, which served the interests of “the privileged few.” roosevelt disagreed with abraham lincoln and felt that government should do nothing to interfere in the lives of its citizens beyond national defense.

Explanation:

The question is about historical analysis (History sub - field in Social Science). Roosevelt's view on liberty in the New Deal era is being analyzed. The key is to understand his stance on the balance between government control (too much vs too little) as per the provided statements.

Answer:

Roosevelt felt that his New Deal walked a fine line between too much government and too little. Roosevelt believed that the definition of liberty that prevailed in the past had led free people to be controlled by the power of the government. He wanted to avoid this.