Final answer:
Historians from the 1970s to 1990s held diverse views on FDR's handling of the Great Depression, ranging from the New Deal being a 'half-way revolution' to a 'revolutionary response to a revolutionary situation'. Critics spanned the political spectrum, with some suggesting more focus on wealth redistribution and government intervention. Overall, despite the criticisms, there was a consensus on the significance of the New Deal in reshaping government's role in the economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historians from the 1970s to the 1990s had varied perspectives on how President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) handled the Great Depression in the 1930s. While some considered his New Deal programs to be revolutionary, others saw them as conservative responses to a fundamentally flawed economic system. Views ranged from seeing the New Deal as a "half-way revolution" that left much to be done, to believing it was a "revolutionary response to a revolutionary situation." There was also a belief that FDR did the best he could within an American society that was not ready for sweeping reforms, and another viewpoint suggested that more focus on wealth redistribution, racial relations, and industrial regulation was needed.
These various interpretations underscore the complexity of the impact of the New Deal on the United States and reflect ongoing debates about the proper role of government in crisis management and economic policy. For instance, critics on the political right argued that Roosevelt's interventions impeded what they believed would have been a natural recovery, while the mainstream left criticized the New Deal for overly favoring big business. Dissidents further to the left wished for more radical changes toward a planned economy.
Despite these critical viewpoints, many agreed that the New Deal was an essential step in the right direction. It bolstered public confidence, reduced unemployment, and generally transformed the American government's role in the economy.