What Does the Hundred Days Refer To?
"The Hundred Days" is most commonly used to refer to one of two historical periods. It can refer to the hundred days between Napoleon Bonaparte's first exile on the island of Elba and his second on St. Helena island, during which time he took back effective control of France and lost the battle of Waterloo. It also refers to the first hundred days of Franklin Delaney Roosevelt's administration in 1932, during which he introduced the New Deal, transforming American society.
Other People Are Reading
-
Napoleon's "Hundred Days"
-
After the "Battle of the Nations" in 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte was eventually defeated and deposed as Emperor of France. He was sent to be exiled on the island of Elba, but on the first of March 1815, he returned to France with a small body of men. As most of France, especially the army, was still loyal to Napoleon, he quickly built up a much larger army and marched on Paris, taking back control of the country. He then marched north, now with an army of more 100,000 soldiers, to engage the British and Prussians, which he eventually did at Waterloo on the 18th June. After he lost the battle he was sent into exile on the much more remote island of St. Helena. One hundred days passed between his return from Elba and his defeat at Waterloo.
FDR's "Hundred Days"
-
During the first hundred days of the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, he was faced with the most difficult period of the Great Depression. Taking advantage of the recent mandate he had been given by the American voters, he pushed a series of measures through Congress, collectively called "The New Deal," which stabilized the country's economy and revolutionized American society.
-
Subsequent Presidents
-
After FDR's success and productivity during his first hundred days, subsequent presidents have been judged on what they have achieved during that period of their administrations. The theory is that the presidency is at the height of its power during this time: Having recently received a mandate to govern from the American people, often accompanied by the party winning control of Congress, this is the best time to introduce important new legislation and make good on campaign promises.
-
References
- Photo Credit 100 image by Gonçalo Carreira from Fotolia.com
