Final answer:
FDR's claim about families in need not wanting to be 'on the dole' emphasized the American value of self-reliance and the work ethic that favors labor and economic independence as the cornerstones of national prosperity. It underscores the need for the government to provide jobs rather than direct cash payments and reflects a shift during the Great Depression toward more governmental intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
When FDR mentions that families in need do not want to be 'on the dole,' he is highlighting an essential aspect of American labor and work ethic. This claim reinforces the belief in economic independence and the dignity of work, which is a fundamental part of the American identity.
Families on relief are contrasted with citizens engaged in honest labor, suggesting that the latter leads to moral and spiritual integrity, which is vital for the nation's prosperity. FDR's larger point of view reflects an understanding of American labor as the backbone of the country's progress, where paid workers' wages were seen as a crucial source of economic growth and social mobility. Moreover, FDR's stance acknowledges the limitations of private industry at the time and the need for government intervention to create jobs and to reinvigorate the economy during the Great Depression.
The Great Depression underscored the need for governmental intervention in the face of the economic crisis, marking a shift in the perception of the unemployed and the poor. Roosevelt's administration was more willing to regard their perspectives, and he aimed to replace direct cash payments with federal work projects to restore the nation's economic health and preserve the moral fiber of its citizens.