Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Rise to Presidency in 1932

Rise in Politics Privileged upbringing Studied law at Harvard NY state senator Assistant Sec. of US Navy Struck with polio but gained popularity-kept political correspondence from bed Restructured Democratic Party, promoted public works, social security, and unemployment benefits

Election of 1932 Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) elected President Offered Americans a “New Deal”

1 st 100 days Declared a Bank Holiday: temporarily closed banks to prevent withdrawals. Banks opened as government decided they were stable enough Emergency banking Relief Act to stabilize banks and Economy Act to balance Federal Budget

NIRA National Industrial Recovery Act: $3 billion for public works to create jobs and set guidelines for fair working conditions

FERA Federal Emergency Relief Administration: direct relief to unemployed

AAA Agricultural Adjustment Act: encouraged farmers to reduce production of crops, paid farmers to destroy crops or livestock or to not farm at all

TVA Tennessee Valley Authority: Build Dams along Tennessee River to create cheap electricity

Fireside Chats FDR held informal talks to Americans via Public Radio to encourage them and give them hope

CCC Civilian Conservation Corps: hired young men to work on National parks and provided them with necessities, paid them a monthly wage (which was usually sent home to help their families)

Criticism of the New Deal Minorities and elderly did not feel like they were gaining support American Liberty League thought FDR was a socialist trying to Sovietize America with government created jobs

Union Party Formed to Challenge FDR’s policies Francis Townsend: FDR neglects elderly Huey Long: FDR is Pro Business Coughlin: Challenged FDR in the 1936 election-he lost and FDR becomes Pres. for 2 nd term

2 nd hundred days More $$$ for social programs to help those in poverty Some begin to question the constitutionality of FDR and the Democratic Party’s policies The Supreme Court rules FDR’s NIRA unconstitutional and many of the programs are stopped

FDR’s Legacy Women in politics: Frances Perkins-Secretary of Labor, Mary McLeod Bethune-National Youth Administration director

The Legacy continues Social Security Act: Workers save for pension to be accessed in later years FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation- insures $$$$ deposited in banks