The Great Depression FDR and the New Deal

1932 Election Incumbent: Herbert Hoover (R) New York Governor: Franklin Delano Roosevelt (D) FDR and “Can-do” attitude

FDR Wealthy Family/Political Legacy Marriage Politically Powerful Cousins with Teddy Roosevelt Marriage Politically Powerful Eleanor Roosevelt 1921 Paralyzed

NEW DEAL 20th Amendment (Feb 33) changes Pres. Inauguration from March to January FDR puts brain trust together to prepare for office Create program nicknamed “New Deal” First 100 days—Congress passes 15 New Deal Bills

Making Changes: Bank Reform March 5 Banking Holiday Convinces Congress to pass Emergency Banking Relief Act—Treasury Department inspected banks March 12 Fireside Chat Glass-Steagall Banking Act (1933)—creates Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Federal Securities Act (1933) 1934-Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Prohibition FDR pushes to allow alcohol Tax revenue 1933: 21st Amendment repeals 18th Amendment

Alphabet Programs Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)—lower production, raise prices Gov’t paid $200 million for no crops, kill hogs Raises prices, but also protest

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) 18-25 year olds Build parks, roads, plant trees, dams, retaining walls, etc. $30/month--$25 sent home to family Free food and uniforms By 1942, 3 million men had been in CCC More than 200 mill trees planted in Plains

Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) $500 million for poor ½ given to states for their use Other ½ given for every three dollars spent by state (using state funds) on poor Feed, clothe, create jobs

Public Works Administration (PWA) June 1933 $ for States—create jobs building schools/community buildings Did not effect unemployment rate much

Civil Works Administration (CWA) November 1933 4 million jobs (‘33-’34) 40,000 schools Paid 50,000 schoolteachers ½ million miles of road

National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) June 1933 Industrial growth through “fair practices” Created National Recovery Administration Set prices Ban child labor Set limits on work hours Limited production Rights to Unionize

NRA Criticism Helped big business/hurt small business Code violations

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) May 1933 Dams for Tennessee River Valley Food control and hydroelectric power Create jobs

Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) Government loans for homeowners facing foreclosure Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

Opposition to New Deal Much being done—too much? Government becoming too big? Too involved in private business? BIG GOVERNMENT

Supreme Court Very Conservative 1935 found NIRA unconstitutional Gave legislative powers to executive Fed gov. can only regulate interstate commerce, not intrastate 1936 AAA found unconstitutional Agriculture regulated by states, not federal government

FDR Strikes Back Feb 1937 proposes Congress pass judiciary bill: Reorganize federal judiciary Appoint six new Supreme Court justices “court-packing bill” Protest—hurt public image

Irony Supreme Court began to agree with New Deal after 1937 Justices resign, FDR appoints seven justices in four years

Anti-FDR Business Leaders Al Smith American Liberty League Fear of Dictatorship Violation of rights to property Rugged-individualism

Father Charles Coughlin Roman Catholic Priest Detroit Sunday Address At first for FDR Wanted guaranteed yearly income, nationalization of banks Anti-Semitic

Dr. Francis Townsend Physician in Long Beach, California Poor and Elderly Pension plan for senior citizens Very expensive—FDR said no

Huey Long Louisiana Senator Supported FDR Share Our Wealth “every man a king”

“We owe debts in America today, public and private, amounting to $252 billion. That means that every child is born with a $2,000 debt tied around his neck…We propose that children shall be born in a land of opportunity, guaranteed a home, food, clothes, and the other things that make for living, including the right to education.”

Planned on running for President Border-line Socialist Assassinated 1935