FDR and The New Deal Relief Recovery Reform

FDR and The New Deal Relief, Recovery, Reform

Election of 1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) vs. Herbert Hoover ® FDR wins promised a New Deal aided by experts – “Brain Trust” 20 th Amendment changes date of inauguration from March to January

First 100 Days period of intense activity first act – declare a bank holiday ◦ ◦ all banks closed inspected sent money re-opened Fireside Chats ◦ explained programs

Fixing Banks Glass Steagall Act ◦ creates the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) Federal insurance on bank accounts (guaranteed to get your money) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ◦ investigates wrong-doings in the stock market

Helping the People PROGRAM DEFINITION Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) Helped farmers by paying them NOT to grow crops to help raise prices Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) built dams to protect from floods and bring electricity to poor Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) paid men (18 -25) to build roads, develop parks, plant trees and fix soil erosions to prevent another Dust Bowl National Industry Recovery Act (NIRA) created PWA and CWA; also guaranteed workers’ rights to organize and go on strike Public Works Administration Civil Works Administration build roads, schools, and other public buildings

Critics programs paid through deficit spending Supreme Court declares NIRA & AAA unconstitutional (state issue not federal) FDR wants to appoint 6 new justices (court packing) ◦ does not get his way American Liberty League ◦ thought New Deal violated rights of individuals and property

More Critics Father Charles Coughlin ◦ wanted a guaranteed annual income Dr. Francis Townsend ◦ wanted a pension plan for the poor and elderly Huey Long ◦ “Share-Our-Wealth” clubs ◦ wanted to have the government provide home, food and education ◦ wanted to be president was assassinated

The Second New Deal FDR re-elected 1936 (2 nd term) created new programs to help people Works Progress Administration (WPA) ◦ created 8 million jobs building roads, subways, and airports Wagner Act ◦ re-established right to strike; created NLRB National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ◦ Hear/investigate unfair business practices Fair Labor Standards Act ◦ created 40 -hour work week and minimum wage

Social Security Act ◦ old age insurance (65 & older) ◦ unemployment insurance ◦ aid to families with children and the disabled

New Deal Coalition Brought support to Democratic Party ◦ ◦ Southern whites urban groups African Americans union membership rose to 10 million especially AFL & CIO

Women Francis Perkins ◦ first woman in the cabinet ◦ Secretary of Labor many still faced discrimination at work ◦ earned less than men

African-Americans Mary Mc. Lead Bethune ◦ created Black Cabinet to advise on racial issues Eleanor Roosevelt ◦ arranged for Marian Anderson to sing on steps of Lincoln Memorial FDR does not support civil rights AA vote Democrat b/c New Deal helped them a little

Mexican Americans most worked as farm labors for very low wages they faced racial violence and deportation they were often excluded from New Deal programs