The New Deal Affects Many Groups

1. The New Deal Affects Many Groups Chapter 15-3

2. The New Deal Brings new Opportunities • The New deal would provide new opportunities for many including women & minorities • Even though gains were made they still had to deal with traditional prejudice & discrimination

3. Women Make Their Mark • One of the most notable changes was the appointment of several women to key government positions • Frances Perkins became the first female cabinet member as Secretary of Labor • She would play a key role in the establishment of the Social Security system • Women still faced discrimination in the workplace as many believed that the woman was taking a job away from a man who was trying to support a family • In other forms of discrimination women were paid less, fewer were hired, & in some cases forbidden to be hired: CCC • The number of women in the workplace would grow during this period despite the discrimination & the numbers would increase as the years went on

4. African Americans Take Leadership Roles • The 1930’s witness a growth of activism for African Americans • Leading the way was A. Philip Randolph who would organize the first all black trade union: The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car porters • Mary Bethune was hired to head of the Division of Negro Affairs of the NYA • She was to ensure that young African Americans were hired & provided with the proper opportunities • She even help create the “Black Cabinet” which would help advise FDR on racial issues • Never before had African Americans had such a prominent voice in the White House • Much of the credit for this falls at Mrs. Roosevelt's feet as she would prod the President for advances

5. The President Fails To Support Civil Rights • Despite giving African Americans more of a voice & role within the government FDR would not support full civil rights for them • He was afraid of upsetting white Democratic members of the South • He would also fail to support an antilynching law as well as a law to end poll taxes, two key goals of the Civil Rights movement • In addition many federal programs openly discriminated against African Americans as they were the last to e hired & were paid considerably less • In general the majority of African Americans would support FDR & the New Deal as they saw it as their best hope for the future

6. Mexican American Fortunes • Mexican Americans also tended to support the New Deal even though they received less than did African Americans • Many Mexicans had come to the Southwest to work on the large farms • When the depression hit their wages would fall to low as $.09 an hour • Many of the federal programs would discriminate against them by disqualifying them as migrant workers who had no permanent address

7. Native Americans Gain Support • Native Americans received strong support from the New Deal as they were granted citizenship by 1933 • John Collier would head the Bureau of Indian Affairs & would help create the Reorganization Act of 1934 • This would move policy to Native American autonomy rather than assimilation • Economically it gave land ownership to the entire tribe prohibiting the government from coming in & selling unclaimed reservation lands • Culturally it would allow Indian children to attend schools on reservations helping to preserve the Indian way of life • Politically the Indian tribes were given permission to elect tribal councils to govern their reservations

8. FDR Creates The New Deal Coalition • Although the New Deal had mixed results for many minorities these groups generally backed him & his New Deal policy • In fact one of FDR’s great achievements was the creation of the New Deal Coalition • This was an alignment of diverse groups dedicated to supporting the Democratic Party • As a result of the success of this group the Democrats would dominate the political front for throughout the 1930’s & 1940’s

9. Labor Unions Flourish • As a result of the Wagner Act & other pro labor legislation passed under FDR union members enjoyed better working conditions, better working hours, & better pay • Because of these gains the unions & their members would show great support for FDR • By 1941 labor membership had grown to over 10 million members strong • Within the many unions a struggle would develop for dominance within the labor movement itself • Unions such as the American Federation of Labor would compete against unions such as the United Mine Workers or the Ladies Garment workers • Many of these conflicts would lead to violent outbursts within the labor movement itself

10. Labor Disputes • One of the main bargaining tactics of the labor movement was the sit down strike • Here workers would simply sit down refusing to do any work & effectively stopping production • Many of the strikes would lead to clashes of striking workers, police, strikebreakers, & scabs • In all the union was a vital cog in the effort to gain better conditions & wages for the American worker • The benefits we enjoy today are the result of the sweat & blood that was spilled in the 1930’s

11. FDR Wins In 1936 • FDR would cruise to an easy victory in the 1936 election • FDR enjoyed the support of labor, many minorities, women, African Americans, & Native Americans • The support of so many key groups coupled with the growing improvement of the economy the Republicans stood no chance of regaining the White House