A New Deal Fightsthe Depression

Chapter 15/Section 1

A New Deal Fightsthe Depression

Key Idea

President Roosevelt takes many actions tocombat the Depression.

In the 1932 election, Franklin DelanoRoosevelt—or FDR—won a landslide victoryand Democrats took control of Congress.

·  FDR’s policies were called the New Deal.

·  Thefirst step was to reform banking.

·  FDR temporarily closed banks through the Emergency Banking Act (EBA), and restored confidence through the

-Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the

-Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

·  He reassured the nation in aradio “fireside chat”.

Roosevelt acted to help farmers and otherworkers.

·  The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) raisedfood prices.

·  Other agencies hired jobless workersfor conservation or building projects—the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Public Works Administration (PWA).

·  The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) helped the needy.

·  The NationalIndustrial Recovery Act (NIRA) promoted industrialgrowth.

·  The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) broughtflood control and electricity to a poor region.

The president’s actions were attacked by liberalsas not enough and by conservatives as too radical.

·  The Supreme Court overturned the NIRAand the AAA

·  Roosevelt tried to add his own justices to the Court, which failed.

·  Eventually the Court backed the New Deal, butthe “court-packing” scheme cost FDR support.

Three critics of Roosevelt rose to prominence.

·  Father Charles Coughlin blasted the president onhis popular radio show.

·  Dr. Francis Townsend proposeda national pension for the elderly.

·  HueyLong, a politician from Louisiana, proclaimed aplan called “Share Our Wealth.”

Chapter 15/Section 2

The Second NewDeal Takes Hold

Key Idea

The Second New Deal institutes new programs to extend federal aid and stimulate the economy.

The economy improved, but not enough.

·  Roosevelt launched the Second New Deal to help the “forgotten man.”

·  His wife Eleanor helped himmaintain popularity.

·  Thepresident easily won re-election in 1936.

In the Second NewDeal, FDR won passage of new laws

·  The Works ProgressAdministration (WPA) funded projectsthat would create jobs.

·  Itemployed more than 8 million people

·  It builtlibraries, schools, and hospitals. It paid artists to create works for the government.

The Second New Deal helped workers in a number of ways.

·  Itset a national minimum wage, limited the workweek, and required employers to pay overtime.

·  The Wagner Act recognized workers’ right to organizeunions.

·  The SocialSecurity Administration (SSA) made payments to retirees, disabledworkers, the unemployed, and needy families.

·  The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) providedmore electrical power in rural areas.

Chapter 15/Section 3

The New Deal AffectsMany Groups

Key Idea

New Deal policies and actions affectAmericans of all walks of life. The Democratic Partyforms a new coalition.

Women benefited from the New Deal.

·  New Deal agencies did not discriminate in hiring, giving women new opportunities.

·  Rooseveltnamed the first female cabinet secretary—FrancesPerkins.

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Mary McLeod Bethune, an African-Americanwoman, became head of the Minority Affairs officeof a New Deal agency.

·  An unofficial “Black Cabinet” helped advise the president.

·  FDR feared losing the support ofwhite Southerners, so he never pressed for full civil rights.

·  Despite this, most African Americans supported the New Deal.

·  The labor movement grew with New Deallaws; Unions grew from 3 to 8 million members.

·  To win gains, labor often hadto strike.

Chapter 15/Section 4

Society and Culture

Key Idea

Motion pictures, radio, art, and literature allblossom during the Depression and the New Deal.

During the Depression, the radio and filmindustries flourished.

·  About 90 percent of allhouseholds owned radios and almost two-thirds ofthe population went to a movie once a week.

·  Themovies offered drama, comedies,musicals, and escapist fare.

·  Hollywood became identified with glamourand sophistication.

·  Families gatheredby their radio each evening to hear their favoriteshows.

·  FDR addressed the nation inhis “fireside chats” on numerous occasions.

The art and literature of the 1930s offered serious critiques of American societyor uplifting messages about the strength of characterand values of the people.

·  One branch of theWPA—the Federal Arts Project—paid artists to createposters, murals, and other public works of art.

·  The Federal Theater Project brought drama tocommunities.

·  Writers hadwork funded by the Federal Writers’ Project.

·  John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath showed the sufferingcaused by the Dust Bowl.

Chapter 15/Section 5

The Impact of the New Deal

Key Idea

The New Deal affects American society notonly in the 1930s but also in the decades that follow.

In the last years of the 1930s, the economy hadrecovered somewhat.

·  Industrial production hadreached 1929 levels.

·  Unemployment, still high, wasmuch less than earlier in the decade.

·  Many politicianspushed FDR to cut back on New Dealprograms; he did.

·  The economy fell back again, but FDR did not restore the New Deal.

Opinion on the New Deal still differs.

·  Conservativessay that under Roosevelt the federal governmentgrew too large and extended into everydaylife.

·  Liberals say that the New Deal did not go farenough in restructuring the economy and wealth.

·  Supporters say that Roosevelt managed a balancebetween preserving the existing systemwhile reforming it.

The New Deal did result in expanded power forthe federal government.

·  It boosted the rights ofworkers and aided farmers.

·  Many reformsand programs begun under the New Deal are still in effect

·  the FDIC and the SEC still regulate banking and finance.

·  Social Security still helps retired Americans and those in need.