130 likes | 249 Views
Quick Write:. Respond to the following quote in 4-6 sentences: “Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions (failures) of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference (doesn’t act).
E N D
Quick Write: • Respond to the following quote in 4-6 sentences: “Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions (failures) of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference (doesn’t act). There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.” -Franklin Delano Roosevelt, February 27, 1936
Voices of Dissent • While the New Deal helped many Americans and restored American confidence, not everyone agreed with the New Deal • Some that that the New Deal went too far • Others thought that it didn’t go far enough
Attacks from both parties On The Left On The Right “Not Enough!” Francis Townsend $ to over 60 Charles Coughlin Catholic Priest Called New Deal the “Raw Deal” Huey Long Senator from Louisiana “Share Our Wealth” “Too Much!” American Liberty League Challenge to free enterprise, accused FDR and the New Deal of being socialist
Strike! • Wagner Act = gave workers the right to form unions and the right to collective bargaining • Created the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to investigate complaints about employers made by workers • Fair Labor Standards Act (passed in 1938) • Minimum wage • Limits on weekly hours • Outlawed child labor • Workers began to use new rights to demand better wages, conditions, etc. • Led to strikes in many industries and workers eventually gained better conditions • However, this also further angered the business community towards FDR
Supreme Court Interferes • Declared many of the New Deal laws and agencies unconstitutional • Most famously, declared that NIRA (National Industrial Recovery Act) was unconstitutional • Also said that AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act) was unconstitutional
New Deal Coalition • Changed the face of the Democratic Party • Democratic Party had traditionally been white southerners but with the changes that FDR made the party changed to be composed of • Southern whites • Northern blue-collar workers (particularly immigrants or descendants of immigrants) • Poor Midwestern farmers • African Americans
Eleanor Roosevelt Used her position as First Lady to campaign for many social causes Raised awareness about discrimination and campaigned for reform Corresponded with citizens Changed the role of the “First Lady”
Eleanor Roosevelt “We are the leading democracy of the world and as such must prove to the world that democracy is possible and capable of living up to the principles upon which it was founded. The eyes of the world are upon us, and often we find they are not too friendly eyes.” -Eleanor Roosevelt, November 22, 1938
Mary McLeod Bethune Teacher who worked to improve education for African American Students Advised FDR as special advisor on minority affairs, was a member of the Black Cabinet First African American woman to head a federal agency
Frances Perkins Advocated for the rights of children and workers Became first woman to hold a cabinet position by serving as FDR’s secretary of labor
Failures of FDR on Social Reform • Passed no civil rights reform legislation • Many New Deal programs discriminated against minority groups as well as against women • Indian New Deal (Indian Reorganization Act did give American Indians greater autonomy, but many other New Deal measures actually hurt American Indians)
Changing the Role of Government • Government hand in economy • FDIC and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) restored faith in banks and the stock market • Some accused FDR of Socialism • “Welfare State” • The idea that the government of a country will take care of the children, old, sick, disabled, and unemployed • This is really the first time in US history that this idea was accepted and eventually has become expected • Conservationism • CCC • 12 million acres of land for National Parks • Not all New Deal projects were good for the environment (TVA and other dams built) • Broad executive power • Strong executive (some accused FDR of having an “Imperial” presidency) • Bureaucracy • Mastery of radio and the media