Do Now What should the government have done to help America and Americans during the Great Depression?

Roosevelt & the New Deal

Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) 1933-1945 1933 Election = FDR (Dem) beats Hoover (Reb) Americans don’t re-elect Pres. Hoover Did too little about GD First 100 days in office (March- June 1933) New Deal legislation Expands fed gov’t role in economy Bank holiday Banks close for 3 days fix problems/create stability Fireside Chats radio shows for New Deal programs FDR speaks directly & simply to public Gains public support

New Deal Collection of programs & regulations Tried to mend problems of GD Major shift towards gov’t involvement in economy 3 focuses: Relief: provide Americans with immediate assistance for basic needs of life (food, shelter, money, jobs) Recovery: helping US economy stabilize Reform: create programs/regulations to make sure GD couldn’t happen again

New Deal Programs- Alphabet Soup WPA = Works Progress Administration (Employment) Quickly created jobs, everything from construction to positions in an orchestra A lot of roads, bridges, buildings created as a result NRA = National Recovery Administration (Business) Established codes for fair competition FHA = Federal Housing Administration (Housing) Insured loans for homes FDIC = Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Business) Protected bank deposits Social Security = (Retirement) Provided pensions for retired people and their spouses, also aided people with disabilities CCC = Civilian Conservation Corps (Employment) Provided jobs for single males on conversation projects AAA = Agricultural Adjustment Administration (Farming) Aided farmers and regulated production TVA = Tennessee Valley Authority (Farming) Developed the recourses ( electricity, flood control etc.) for the Tennessee Valley Wagner Act = (Labor) Defined unfair labor practices and established a board to settle disputes between employers and employees

Opposition Deficit spending: gov’t spends more money than it makes Many felt gov’t was too involved in free- market economy Others felt gov’t wasn’t doing enough Critics of the New Deal Huey Long originally supported FDR but instead wanted gov’t to do more Social program “Share Our Wealth” Wanted to become president Father Coughlin Priest who originally supported New Deal Wanted guaranteed annual income & nationalization of banks Dr. Francis Townsend wanted even more elderly financial care Supreme Court rules some programs unconstitutional Checks and balances

WWII ends Great Depression WWII shifted America Economy became more productive for war time goods/supplies Uniforms, planes, ammo, food for soldiers Jobs were created Socially/Emotionally people united under a common goal Revenge for Pearl Harbor Focus shifted to protecting US rather than trying to figure out how to solve domestic issues Gov’t focused on war instead on domestic issues Government power continued to grow

Activity Historians have analyzed whether or not the New Deal Programs were successful. Read the 2 interpretations of Social Securities' successfulness at helping those in need during the Great Depression. Summarize the argument each historian is making. Begin thinking about similarities and differences between the 2 interpretations

Class Comparison Similarities Differences

Crash Course – New Deal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bMq9Ek6jnA