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FDR & the New Deal. Visual Discovery of the FDR’s plan to pull America our of the Great Depression. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer. 4.2A: The Presidential Election of 1932. American public overwhelmingly elected FDR in 1932.
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FDR & the New Deal Visual Discovery of the FDR’s plan to pull America our of the Great Depression
Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answer.
4.2A: The Presidential Election of 1932 • American public overwhelmingly elected FDR in 1932. • Decisive victory in the Electoral/Popular vote. • “Happy Days are Here Again & a “New Deal” • Promised Fed. Gov. would help with welfare at the most crucial time in Am. History. • 4th year of the Great Depression.
4.2A: The Presidential Election of 1932 • FDR takes control at the most unenviable of times. • 25% of Am. were unemployed. • 10 mil people lost jobs since 1929. • Those lucky enough to keep jobs suffered wage cuts. • Daily Stock Market Average dropped significantly. • Banks closed and businesses shut their doors. • Farmers suffered the most • 12 drought stricken states turned into “dust bowls”. • Unions and businesses clashed. • Schools closed.
4.2A: The Presidential Election of 1932 • Relief for Americans through entertainment & politics. • Paramount Studios produced hundreds of movies to provide temporary distractions for depressed America. • Long-term relief relief through politics. • Disillusioned with Pres. Hoover’s conservative & ineffective solutions. • FDR gave hope to millions.
4.2B: The Rise of FDR • FDR lived a privileged life, in contrast to the average American. • FDR grew up in a Hyde Park estate in central New York. • Wealthy parents, traveled to France to improve his French. • According to college classmates, he was a snob, eating at private clubs. • Christian values: simplicity, honesty, hard work, compassion for the poor. • His mother taught him the wealthy/privileged had an obligation to serve the public. • Private law, NewYork state senator, Asst. Sec. Navy.
4.2B: The Rise of FDR • Aug. ‘21, FDR struck with polio as he begins national politics • Symptoms similar to cold at first/Lead to paralysis below waist. Unable to stand without 10 lb. Metal braces. • “God had abandoned me” but later saw it as a purpose. • Spent seven years in “semi-private” recovery while maintaining ties to the political world. • After recovery, he spent two terms as Gov. of New York. • Promoted public works thru creation of jobs, old-aged pensions, unemployment insurance, direct relief for poor. • Viewed as a hero because of ideas to help poor America and his battle versus polio.
4.2B: The Rise of FDR • In public, FDR exuded warmth & reassuring confidence. • FDR pledged “We Americans will rise from destruction; we Americans will conquer despair. • FDR gave tremendous hope to the American public in the midst of the Great Depression. • Eager anticipation of his first actions as president.
4.2C: The Beginning of the New Deal • First day in office focused on mobilizing Fed. Gov. to rescue the nation from the Great Depression. • Promised to execute the New Deal “promptly, fearlessly, & generously.” • Gov. policies based on the needs of “the forgotten, the unrecognized but the indispensable units of econ. Power … the forgotten man at the bottom of the econ. Pyramid,” not gov. officials. • Declared a bank holiday the day after he took office. • Wanted to prevent Americans from panicking and withdrawing their money.
4.2C: The Beginning of the New Deal • Called a special session of Congress. • “Hundred Days” = remarkable period of lawmaking. • Created Emergency Banking Relief Act & the Economy Act to balance the fed. Budget. • Quickness of getting things done re-emphasized the trust of the American people. • Man of Action • By Summer of ‘33, 3/4 of banks re-opened, depositing $1 billion. • National Industrial Recovery Act - $3 billion for roads, tunnels, housing projects - created 1,000s of jobs. • New wage guidelines, hours, working conditions. • All of the above formed the foundation for recovery.
4.2C: The Beginning of the New Deal • In addition to helping banks & businesses, Congress wanted to relieve poor people’s daily hardship. • Hundred Days • Federal Emergency Relief Admin. (FERA) - $500 mil for unemployed. • FERA created NO long-term plans to create jobs • Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) provided relief for farmers. • Raised market prices for crops & livestock. • AAA encouraged farmers to plow under and burn millions of acres of crops to diminish supply & raise prices. • Farmers were given $1.5 billion in subsidies • Controversial - 6 mil hogs destroyed, surplus of wheat & cotton.
4.2C: The Beginning of the New Deal • Balanced short-term vs. long-term relief. • Hundred Days • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) - built dams to harness flow of water to create cheap electricity. • Erected numerous power plants in AL, TN, KY, & other states. • TVA allowed some of the nation’s poorest people to have elect. Lights & power to operate farm machinery. • Flood control, new factories and jobs, professionals to serve.
4.2C: The Beginning of the New Deal • Several reasons for great success. • Both Dems/Reps wanted to enact laws helping end the Great Depression. • Cooperation btw political parties. • Quick & efficient passing of laws. • “Brain Trust” - diverse group of imaginative intellectuals. • 13 “fireside chats” to gain America’s trust. • Personable, informal talks delivered thru the radio. • Explained the simple idea behind each reform.
4.2C: The Beginning of the New Deal • After listening to fireside chat: • What words would you use to describe FDR’s tone? • Who do you think was listening to this radio address in 1935? • What techniques did FDR use to connect with his audience? • What do you think FDR’s objectives were in having the fireside chats? • Based on this example, do you think he was successful? • Why or why not?
4.2D: Work Programs • The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) • One of the most popular. • Work program by fed govt. to relieve unemployment & poverty. • Summer ‘33 - 250,000 young men, 17 to 24 • Worked in Nat’l Parks & Forests • Planting trees, repairing park facilities, building wilderness trails, stocking fish in lakes and rivers. • $30 per month, provided shelter, food, clothing and educational opportunities. • By ‘39, 2.5 mil men put to work, only 10% African-Amer. • Improved wilderness areas.
4.2D: Work Programs • National Industrial Recovery Act • Modest gains for industrial workers and labor unions. • Gov monitoring of big business practices to prevent violations or workers; rights • 1938 - Fair labor Standards Act • eliminated child labor, est. min hourly wage, higher overtime pay. • Did not help women, or minorities
4.2D: Work Programs • Despite some flaws, the New Deal was greeted with gratitude by American families. • Fan mail for FDR and Eleanor. • Heartfelt thanks to “The Boss” from “Your Pal” • All groups widely proclaimed their support. • Act-it-out!
4.2E: Critics of the New Deal • Some raised questions about FDR and the New Deal. • Minorities especially questioned motives. • Critics believed FDR tried to please too many different groups. • Critics also believed he did too much or too little in Americans lives.
4.2E: Critics of the New Deal • The American Liberty League - one primary group that attacked FDR was Big Business. • General Motors and General Foods along with conservative Dems questioned his “socialist” leanings. • They were concerned about skyrocketing federal deficit. • Big Business formed the American Liberty League. • Too much govt. interference in private enterprise. • Complained about “Sovietizing” the New York Stock Exchange, railroads, radios, elect power, INDUSTRIAL LABOR.
4.2E: Critics of the New Deal • Sec. of Ag., Henry Wallace voiced his displeasure with AAA. • Concerned about throwing away 100 mil pounds of pork. • AAA’s popularity waned as the policies increased poverty of farmers.
4.2E: Critics of the New Deal • Townsend, Long, Coughlin, and the Union Party. • Several critics form groups to publicly oppose FDR • “Townsendites” - elderly people organized by Dr. Francis E. Townsend. • Believed FDR neglected the elderly and pensions. Rejected by House. • Huey Long, Sen., La., charismatic, leftist. • Long preached that greedy businessmen upset the balance of the nation’s wealth. • “Share Our Wealth” Dramatic redistribution of wealth. Take from the rich to give to the poor. • “every man would be king”Assassinated shortly before the election of 1936.
4.2E: Critics of the New Deal • Father Charles E. Coughlin initially believed FDR’s New Deal was “Christ’s Deal” • Changed his mind and talked his 30 million listeners to follow big business, not FDR. • Became more extreme (fascist and anti-semetic) • Joined Long’s successor and Townsend in creating the Union party to challenge FDR in ‘36. • Lost in a landslide to FDR.
4.2F: Legacy of the New Deal • Second Hundred Days • Despite criticism, FDR and Cong continued to enact experimental New Deal policies and programs. • FDR/Cong pumped $1 bil. into economy. • Supreme Court Battle • Supreme Court ruled many acts unconstitutional. • NIRA especially was ruled unconstitutional • ‘37 FDR asked Cong to allow him to appoint 6 new justices (old-age and slow) • Packing the court only offended all segments of society.
4.2F: Legacy of the New Deal • Legacy of the New Deal • New came to an end in ‘38. • 1) FDR leadership reshaped the role of the presidency. • Strength, dignity, independence like no other position in the world. • Centralization of power in the Oval Office (federal power) • 2) Fed govt. and its role in American’s lives grew larger and had more direct contact with the people - Welfare State. • 3) FDR and Eleanor ushered in women into more prominent national roles. • 4) Social Security, old-aged care by the govt., regulation of stock market, deficit spending, insured banking deposits.
4.2F: Legacy of the New Deal • Did it work? Yes and No. • Assessment says New Deal partially rescued Americans from the Great Depression. • Unemployment dropped, business failures declined, farmers benefited from subsidies, public’s confidence in banks increased. • Millions of Americans were aided by the programs. • Success was limited. • WWII is often credited with moving the U.S. economy from surviving to thriving. • FDR and the New Deal can be applauded for bold activism and creative experimentation in the search for solutions.
