Who was Franklin Roosevelt? Distant cousin to Teddy Roosevelt Rising political star until he contracted polio in 1921 FDR began grueling exercise regimen to walk again Could stand and walk a little with metal leg braces, but only for short amounts of time Wife Eleanor helped campaign for him

The Brain Trust The country needs bold experimentation… above all, try SOMETHING.” FDR, 1933 Roosevelt did not have a firm plan to end the Depression His goal was “a New Deal” for the American people He had many advisors from all walks of political, social, and economic groups Roosevelt’s advisors were nicknamed the “Brain Trust”

Fireside Chats Roosevelt was an excellent communicator He would frequently address the nation by radio Explained his policies in simple, conversational terms Presented himself as an optimist to restore public confidence Bank Chat

Relief Short-term actions designed to tide people over until the economy recovers

Recovery Restore the economy by increasing incentives to produce and rebuild people’s purchasing power

Reform Fix the defects in the American economy to ensure another depression never happens again

Emergency Banking Relief Act AKA the Bank Holiday All banks were closed and inspected by regulators The stable banks were reopened and certified safe

Federal Emergency Relief Act Funded state and local governments to provide emergency relief and enabled millions to be hired on “make-work” projects

Civilian Conservation Corps Gave jobs to young men, such as planting trees and cleaning up forests Most pay was sent home to their parents

Public Works Administration Created federal jobs by building public projects, such as school, roads, courts, post offices, and bridges

Works Progress Administration Created jobs by hiring artists, writers, and musicians to paint murals, produce plays, and create other artworks Murals!

Priming the Pump Roosevelt believed pouring money into the economy would get it working again More $$ = more demand for products More demand = more workers making products More workers = more $$ = more demand

National Recovery Administration Asked businesses to follow codes which set standard prices, production limits, and minimum wages

Agriculture Adjustment Acts Paid farmers to plant less to increase prices Government bought farm surpluses and stored them until prices went up

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Insured bank deposits so that people would not lose their savings in the event of a bank failure

Tennessee Valley Authority Built 21 government-owned dams along Tennessee River, controlling floods and producing electricity

Securities and Exchange Commission Created to watch over the stock market, prevent fraud, and guard against another stock market collapse

National Labor Relations Act Gave workers the right to form unions, collectively bargain, and submit grievances (complaints) to the National Labor Relation Board

Social Security Act Provided workers with unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and insurance if they died early Workers and their employers each paid contributions to fund these benefits

American Liberty League Who: group of industrialists opposed to the New Deal Objectives: protect the rights of businesses to operate without government interference No problem with government policies that assisted or encouraged business No real popular support Seen as “organized money”

Francis E Townsend Who: elderly physician and author of the Townsend Plan (which he wrote in a local newspaper) Objective: have the government pay $200 to every American over the age of 60 Developed a following of (about) five million nationwide

Charles E Coughlin Who: Catholic priest from Detroit with a radio program Objective: placed the blame for the Depression on Jewish bankers and formed the National Union for Social Justice (a pro-labor group) 30 million followers, but quickly silenced and completely ignored once WWII began

Huey P Long Who: Senator from Louisiana and “Kingfish” of Louisiana politics Objective: claimed administration was not doing enough to help people and created the “Share Our Wealth” campaign Guaranteed $2500/ year to every American, free education, a $5000 housing allowance for families, and much much more! Long assassinated in 1935

The Supreme Court Who: the third branch of government Objective: The Court ruled many New Deal programs (AAA, NIRA) unconstitutional Roosevelt responded with court-packing plan Add six new justices to the court to protect New Deal programs from judicial review Two anti-New Deal justices start to vote in favor of New Deal programs Plan abandoned