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The New Deal. 1933 – 1941. Federal Gold Depository built by PWA. Georgia Standards. SSUSH18 The student will describe Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal as a response to the depression and compare the ways governmental programs aided those in need.
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The New Deal 1933 – 1941 Federal Gold Depository built by PWA
Georgia Standards • SSUSH18 The student will describe Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal as a response to the depression and compare the ways governmental programs aided those in need. • Describe the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority as a works program and as an effort to control the environment. • Explain the Wagner Act and the rise of industrial unionism. • Explain the passage of the Social Security Act as a part of the second New Deal. • Identify Eleanor Roosevelt as a symbol of social progress and women’s activism. • Identify the political challenges to Roosevelt’s domestic and international leadership; include the role of Huey Long, the “court packing bill,” and the Neutrality Act.
Roosevelt Restored the Nation’s Hope • “The only thing to fear is fear itself” • The “Brain Trust” • Helped him come up with the New Deal • Eleanor Roosevelt • “eyes and ears” of FDR • 2nd Bonus March • Fireside chats • Radio broadcasts that allowed FDR to explain his programs to the American people
1st New Deal • The First Hundred Days • Roosevelt made quick actions to try to provide relief, recovery, and reform • Relief – provided immediate help and/or jobs • Recovery – fix the problems of the Great Depression • Reform – change the way the government and economy works
1st New Deal (cont.) • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) – “reform” • First action of the New Deal was closing the banks to prevent “runs” • Banks were inspected and then reopened • Federal government insured bank deposits up to $5,000 • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – “reform” • Regulates the stock market • FDIC & SEC helped restore confidence in investments
1st New Deal (cont.) • Relief Programs • Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) • Attempt to raise farm prices by paying farmers not to farm and/or destroy crops • Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA) • Federal funds to state gov’t to provide for unemployed • Civil Works Administration (CWA) • Jobs for public works • Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) • 2 million young men working in national parks (one of the most popular agencies) • Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) • Low interest loans to help people pay their mortgages • Indian Reorganization Act (IRA)
1st New Deal (cont.) • Recovery Programs • National Recovery Act (NRA) • Created codes for companies and labor unions • Established minimum wages and minimum prices • Public Works Administration (PWA) • Built bridges, dams, power plants, and gov’t buildings • Examples: Triborough Bridge, Overseas Highway, Fort Knox • The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) • Built dams and power plants in the state area of the Tenn. River Valley • Provided electricity to one of the poorest regions in the country Triborough Bridge in NYC
New Deal Personnel • Women and African Americans in policy-making positions • Federal Council on Negro Affairs • “The Black Cabinet” • Eleanor Roosevelt • Changed the First Lady’s Role Eleanor Roosevelt speaking at a CCC Camp
The New Deal Falters • Did not bring immediate economic improvement • Supreme Court decided NIRA and the tax that supported the AAA were unconstitutional Depression-era slum in Washington, DC
The Second New Deal • Works Progress Administration (WPA) • Largest program • $11 billion spent • 8 million jobs • Built highways, provided jobs for artists • Farm Security Administration (FSA) replaced the AAA
Second New Deal (cont.) • New Labor Legislation • Wagner Act (National Labor Relations Act) • Allowed workers to join labor unions • Labor unions gain more power and influence over businesses (i.e. UAW strike against GM) • National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) • Social Security Act (SSA) – “reform” • Pension system for retirees (65 years old today) • Aid to the blind and disabled • Insurance for work-related accidents Sit-down strikers at a GM plant in Flint, Michigan
The New Deal’s Critics • The Limits of the New Deal • Men favored for jobs over women • African Americans do not receive equal benefits or jobs • Political Critics • New Deal Does Too Much • Republicans, Revenue Act, Social Security • New Deal Does Too Little • Socialists, Upton Sinclair • Other Critics • Demagogues • Father Charles E. Coughlin • Huey Long – most serious threat
Huey Long • Governor of Louisiana in 1928… • Elected US Senator in 1932… • Did extraordinary things to help the underprivileged… • Improved education, healthcare and public services… • Developed a program called “Share the Wealth”—would limit individual income to $1 million… • And inheritance to $5 million… • The government would take the rest and redistribute it… • Each American family would receive $7,000, guaranteed, per year. • Long was thinking about running for President… • But was assassinated in 1935.
The Court-Packing Scheme • FDR wants more judges to ensure his legislation passes constitutionality • Tried add 6 justices • Critics dislike “packing” the courts • Republicans and Southern Democrats unite against FDR
Court-Packing • Most members of the Supreme Court had been appointed by Republican presidents, were very conservative… • And struck down many of Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. • In 1937, Roosevelt proposed to “reform” the court… • By adding as many as six additional justices (to the existing nine)… • Roosevelt argued that the justices were too “overworked” and “tired” to do their jobs… • But most people saw that he wanted to “pack” the court with pro-New Deal justices… • Was a step toward dictatorship… • And Roosevelt withdrew his bill under heavy criticism.
Limitations of the New Deal • The minimum wage—was 25 cents per hour, below what most workers were already paid… • New Deal agencies gave primary attention to white males… • The national debt went from $16.9 billion in 1929 to $42.9 billion in 1940. • Federal Relief Agencies in the south were segregated, excluding African Americans… • Bills to make lynching a federal crime were defeated… • Some thought the New Deal went too far, was too close to communism (rich people hated the New Deal—why?) • Some thought it did not go far enough…
The Legacy of the New Deal • Voters began to expect the President to solve their problems… • And accepted government intervention into their lives… • Many New Deal projects are still standing today… • The SEC continues to regulate the stock market… • The FDIC continues to insure deposits (up to $250,000)… • Social Security, always under attack, is still around… • American farmers are still heavily subsidized… • The New Deal provided hope… • But only reduced unemployment from 13 million to 9 million.
New Deal’s Effects • Literature • Radio and Movies • WPA and the Arts • Lasting New Deal Achievements • TVA, SEC, FDIC, AAA crop strategies • Social Security • World War II – many feel the true reason America got out of the Great Depression