Chapter 23: The New Deal
Essential Questions and Goals
EQ #3. How did Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal as a response to the Great Depression, have an impact on American society?
EQ #4. Under the New Deal, how did the various governmental programs aide those in need?
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.
a) Describe the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority as a works program and as an effort to control the environment.
b) Explain the Wagner Act and the rise of industrial unionism.
c) Explain the passage of the Social Security Act as a part of the second New Deal.
d) Identify Eleanor Roosevelt as a symbol of social progress and women’s activism.
e) 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.
EQ #3. How did Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal as a response to the Great Depression, have an impact on American society?
EQ #4. Under the New Deal, how did the various governmental programs aide those in need?
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.
a) Describe the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority as a works program and as an effort to control the environment.
b) Explain the Wagner Act and the rise of industrial unionism.
c) Explain the passage of the Social Security Act as a part of the second New Deal.
d) Identify Eleanor Roosevelt as a symbol of social progress and women’s activism.
e) 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.
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The New Deal
The New Deal was a collection of programs and policies implemented by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) to help end the Great Depression in the United States. Although the advent of World War II did a great deal to end the Depression through military spending and wartime job creation, some of the New Deal programs provided immediate relief for the nation. In addition to creating temporary relief, some social welfare programs such as Social Security forever changed the laissez-faire, or hands-off, approach of the federal government. Since the New Deal era, the public has expected the government to actively provide economic protections and federal aid. Programs such as Social Security, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Securities and Exchange Commission have become cornerstones of U.S. government.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was a native of New York state who had served as both a state senator and governor before ascending to the presidency. He ran for president in 1932. At the time, the Great Depression was ravaging the country, and one in four Americans was unemployed. Roosevelt campaigned on the promise of a “New Deal” for America. He believed the government should help its citizens when they could not help themselves. With President Herbert Hoover unable to stabilize the economy, Roosevelt was elected to the presidency on November 8, 1932. As president, he exuded confidence. He engaged in fireside chats, which were informal radio announcements that told the American public what was going on in realistic but optimistic tones. These radio broadcasts helped build trust between the public and the government. Roosevelt’s New Deal looked to create a partnership among Americans, the business sector, and the federal government.
Immediately after taking office, Roosevelt began his New Deal campaign to end the Great Depression. During the first “100 Days” of Roosevelt’s presidency, his administration passed at least 15 pieces of major legislation, an unheard of number of bills. He addressed the national banking crisis by calling for a national banking holiday. Under the Emergency Banking Relief Act, when the banks reopened a few days later, they did so under government supervision. Banking deposits were now insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This helped stop people from pulling their money out of banks prematurely and kept banks open and operational.
Other New Deal legislation created welfare agencies and gave emergency relief to the poor and unemployed. Jobs were created through federal programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Civil Works Administration, and the Public Works Administration. The Federal Securities Act and subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) helped maintain a new level of transparency and oversight in the stock market.
Not all programs were well received. The Agricultural Adjustment Administration was criticized for paying farmers to not produce food when so many Americans were hungry. The National Recovery Administration was criticized for giving advantages to big business and for causing inflated prices. Eventually, this part of the National Industrial Recovery Act was deemed unconstitutional.
The Second New Deal began in 1935. At this point, Roosevelt and Congress turned attention away from emergency and immediate relief to implement programs and policies that would have longer lasting effects. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) employed Americans in public works projects such as bridges and roads and even employed artists and photographers. The Social Security Act was passed on August 14, 1935. This act created federal financial support for all workers at retirement age, as well as for single mothers and the blind. It remains the single largest federal program in operation today.
Not everyone supported the New Deal. Some of the major New Deal critics included Huey Long, a U.S. senator from and former governor of Louisiana; Father Charles Coughlin, a Roman Catholic priest from Detroit, Michigan; and Dr. Francis Townsend, an impoverished man in his 60s who was angry about not being able to retire. These outspoken critics believed the president was not doing enough to help the country recover.
As the 1930s wore on, Roosevelt backed off of New Deal investment and the country took another economic downturn in 1937 and 1938. This came to be known as the “Roosevelt Recession.” In 1937, Roosevelt pushed to increase the number of U.S. Supreme Court justices. He hoped this would help ensure his policies and programs would be met with approval if they came in front of the high court. The proposal was not widely endorsed, and more people began to think the president was taking on too much power and control. Eventually, the Great Depression lifted with the increased military spending and job needs of World War II, yet the New Deal programs left a lasting legacy on American government and society.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was a native of New York state who had served as both a state senator and governor before ascending to the presidency. He ran for president in 1932. At the time, the Great Depression was ravaging the country, and one in four Americans was unemployed. Roosevelt campaigned on the promise of a “New Deal” for America. He believed the government should help its citizens when they could not help themselves. With President Herbert Hoover unable to stabilize the economy, Roosevelt was elected to the presidency on November 8, 1932. As president, he exuded confidence. He engaged in fireside chats, which were informal radio announcements that told the American public what was going on in realistic but optimistic tones. These radio broadcasts helped build trust between the public and the government. Roosevelt’s New Deal looked to create a partnership among Americans, the business sector, and the federal government.
Immediately after taking office, Roosevelt began his New Deal campaign to end the Great Depression. During the first “100 Days” of Roosevelt’s presidency, his administration passed at least 15 pieces of major legislation, an unheard of number of bills. He addressed the national banking crisis by calling for a national banking holiday. Under the Emergency Banking Relief Act, when the banks reopened a few days later, they did so under government supervision. Banking deposits were now insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This helped stop people from pulling their money out of banks prematurely and kept banks open and operational.
Other New Deal legislation created welfare agencies and gave emergency relief to the poor and unemployed. Jobs were created through federal programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Civil Works Administration, and the Public Works Administration. The Federal Securities Act and subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) helped maintain a new level of transparency and oversight in the stock market.
Not all programs were well received. The Agricultural Adjustment Administration was criticized for paying farmers to not produce food when so many Americans were hungry. The National Recovery Administration was criticized for giving advantages to big business and for causing inflated prices. Eventually, this part of the National Industrial Recovery Act was deemed unconstitutional.
The Second New Deal began in 1935. At this point, Roosevelt and Congress turned attention away from emergency and immediate relief to implement programs and policies that would have longer lasting effects. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) employed Americans in public works projects such as bridges and roads and even employed artists and photographers. The Social Security Act was passed on August 14, 1935. This act created federal financial support for all workers at retirement age, as well as for single mothers and the blind. It remains the single largest federal program in operation today.
Not everyone supported the New Deal. Some of the major New Deal critics included Huey Long, a U.S. senator from and former governor of Louisiana; Father Charles Coughlin, a Roman Catholic priest from Detroit, Michigan; and Dr. Francis Townsend, an impoverished man in his 60s who was angry about not being able to retire. These outspoken critics believed the president was not doing enough to help the country recover.
As the 1930s wore on, Roosevelt backed off of New Deal investment and the country took another economic downturn in 1937 and 1938. This came to be known as the “Roosevelt Recession.” In 1937, Roosevelt pushed to increase the number of U.S. Supreme Court justices. He hoped this would help ensure his policies and programs would be met with approval if they came in front of the high court. The proposal was not widely endorsed, and more people began to think the president was taking on too much power and control. Eventually, the Great Depression lifted with the increased military spending and job needs of World War II, yet the New Deal programs left a lasting legacy on American government and society.