1Visions of America, A History of the United States CHAPTER A New Deal for America The Great Depression, 1929– Visions of America, A History of the United States

A New Deal for America What emotions does Walker Evans’s portrait of the “forgotten man” arouse? 2 Visions of America, A History of the United States THE GREAT DEPRESSION,

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A New Deal for America I.The Early Days of the Depression II.A New President and a New Deal III.Recovering from the Depression IV.A New Deal for Farmers V.Reforms to Ensure Social Justice 4 Visions of America, A History of the United States THE GREAT DEPRESSION, 1929–1940

The Early Days of the Depression A.Herbert Hoover B.Economic Weaknesses in a Time of Prosperity C.The Stock Market Crash of 1929 D.Hoover’s Response to the Depression 5 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Herbert Hoover What qualities made Hoover a popular president when he was first elected? 6 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Economic Weaknesses in a Time of Prosperity What were the causes of the Great Depression? Why did farmers fail to prosper in the 1920s? 7 Visions of America, A History of the United States

The Stock Market Crash of 1929 What factors led to the stock market crash in 1929? 8 Visions of America, A History of the United States

The Stock Market Crash of 1929 Stock Market Crash of 1929 – A ten-day period beginning on October 20, 1929, when the value of stocks plummeted as panicked investors sold off their stock in droves. This moment is usually considered the official start of the Depression. 9 Visions of America, A History of the United States

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Hoover’s Response to the Depression How did Hoover respond to the initial economic crisis? What innovative solutions did Hoover propose as the economic crisis continued? 11 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Hoover’s Response to the Depression Great Depression – The most devastating and longest economic crisis in American history; lasted from 1929 to 1939 Bonus March – A two-month-long demonstration by forty thousand impoverished World War I veterans in Washington, D.C. that ended violently when the army expelled the protesters 12 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Choices and Consequences Many veterans had little food or money Demanded early payment of $500 bonus Set up “Hoovervilles” and protested EVICTING THE BONUS MARCHERS 13 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Choices regarding Bonus Marchers Choices and Consequences EVICTING THE BONUS MARCHERS 14 Visions of America, A History of the United States Pay the bonus immediately Use force to suppress it Reject claim, treat veterans as harmless citizens

Choices and Consequences Decision and Consequences Hoover chose to evict the veterans Many were injured and several killed Many Americans turned against Hoover 15 Visions of America, A History of the United States EVICTING THE BONUS MARCHERS Why was Hoover’s choice to evict the bonus marchers significant?

Choices and Consequences Continuing Controversies Was the government right to use force to evict the Bonus Marchers? EVICTING THE BONUS MARCHERS 16 Visions of America, A History of the United States

A New President and a New Deal A.FDR: The Politician B.Managing Appearances C.The Temper of the Poor: Passivity and Anger 17 Visions of America, A History of the United States

FDR: The Politician How did the competing social philosophies of Hoover and FDR differ? What role did Eleanor Roosevelt play during her husband’s administration? 18 Visions of America, A History of the United States

FDR: The Politician New Deal – An avalanche of legislation from 1933 to 1938 intended to promote economic recovery, reform American capitalism, and offer security to ordinary Americans 19 Visions of America, A History of the United States

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Managing Appearances How and why did FDR manage his political image? 23 Visions of America, A History of the United States

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The Temper of the Poor: Passivity and Anger What groups of people did the New Deal help? What new role did the New Deal establish for the federal government in their lives? What competing responses did the poor offer to the ongoing Depression? 26 Visions of America, A History of the United States

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Revamping Banking and Financial Institutions How did FDR reform the nation’s banking and financial institutions? 28 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Recovering from the Depression A.Revamping Banking and Financial Institutions B.Father Charles Coughlin C.Helping Industry and People D.Putting People to Work 29 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Father Charles Coughlin What conflicting visions prompted the right and the left to criticize the New Deal? Why did New Deal banking reforms and relief programs generate criticism? 30 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Helping Industry and People 31 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Putting People to Work Who benefited from the wide range of New Deal work-relief programs? What competing visions arose over New Deal work-relief programs? 32 Visions of America, A History of the United States

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A New Deal for Farmers A.Handling the Farm Crisis B.Hitting the Road C.Repatriating Mexican Immigrants 34 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Handling the Farm Crisis How did the government publicize the plight of farmers and Dust Bowl refugees in the thirties? Why did these images become an enduring symbol of Depression-era suffering? How did FDR tackle the problems of rural America? 35 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Handling the Farm Crisis Dust Bowl – Drought and soil erosion that caused massive dust storms across southern and plains states throughout the thirties 36 Visions of America, A History of the United States

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Hitting the Road How did displaced farmers act to improve their own lives? 38 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Hitting the Road “Migrant Mother” – Dorothea Lange’s 1936 photograph of a destitute woman, which became an iconic portrait of Depression-era suffering 39 Visions of America, A History of the United States

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Repatriating Mexican Immigrants What happened to Mexican immigrants during the Depression? 41 Visions of America, A History of the United States

What was the purpose and impact of Dorothea Lange’s migrant farmer photographs? Images as History “MIGRANT MOTHER,” AN AMERICAN ICON 42 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Images as History “MIGRANT MOTHER,” AN AMERICAN ICON 43 Visions of America, A History of the United States Subsequent photos focused on despair of family rather than general poverty and framed the image to avoid troublesome questions. Father not in sight: Looking for work or abandoned family? Presence of older daughter: Why is she not working? Open luggage could suggest lack of discipline.

Images as History Government photographers depicted migrants as heroic victims and never showed them smiling, angry, or responsible for their misery. 44 Visions of America, A History of the United States “MIGRANT MOTHER,” AN AMERICAN ICON As adults, the daughters depicted in these images believed they underscored the importance of individual initiative, to make sure they “never had to live like that again.”

Reforms to Ensure Social Justice A.The Challenge from Huey Long: “Share Our Wealth” B.Social Security C.Supporting Unions D.The Resurgence of Labor E.A New Deal for African Americans 45 Visions of America, A History of the United States

The Challenge from Huey Long: “Share Our Wealth” How did critics from the left shape the social justice programs of FDR’s second administration? 46 Visions of America, A History of the United States

The Challenge from Huey Long: “Share Our Wealth” “Share Our Wealth” – Louisiana Senator Huey Long’s plan that would redistribute money from the rich to the poor 47 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Social Security Who was considered part of the “deserving poor” in the new Social Security system? 48 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Social Security “Deserving Poor” – Needy Americans who were legitimately entitled to public support, a category open to differing interpretations 49 Visions of America, A History of the United States

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Competing Visions Senator Huey Long outlined proposal to redistribute wealth. 51 Visions of America, A History of the United States SHARING THE WEALTH What competing images of the poor do Long and this Indiana woman offer? In letter to Eleanor Roosevelt, an Indiana woman protested that government-distributed relief robs honest men to help “good-for- nothing” loafers.

Supporting Unions What factors account for labor protests in the thirties, a time when one might expect workers to be grateful for any job on any terms? How did government support of unions change during the 1930s? 52 Visions of America, A History of the United States

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The Resurgence of Labor Why were the CIO’s innovative organizing and strike tactics effective? 54 Visions of America, A History of the United States

The Resurgence of Labor American Federation of Labor (AFL) – A craft-based organization that accepted only skilled workers, like carpenters or cigar makers, who practiced a trade Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) – A new type of labor organization that organized workers within an entire industry rather than by their trade orientation 55 Visions of America, A History of the United States

The Resurgence of Labor Sit-Down Strike – Workers occupy a factory to paralyze production lines and prevent strikebreakers or management from entering the building 56 Visions of America, A History of the United States

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A New Deal for African Americans Why did many African Americans switch from the Republican to the Democratic Party in the 1930s? 58 Visions of America, A History of the United States

A New Deal for African Americans New Deal Coalition – A political partnership formed in the mid-thirties among liberals, trade unionists, Catholics, and northern blacks that redrew the nation’s political map 59 Visions of America, A History of the United States

The Supreme Court Weighs In What role did the Supreme Court play during the New Deal? Why did the New Deal end in 1938? 60 Visions of America, A History of the United States

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George Gallop’s public opinion polls focused on statistical sampling rather than volume of responses. Envisioning Evidence INTERPRETING PUBLIC OPINION POLLS 62 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Envisioning Evidence INTERPRETING PUBLIC OPINION POLLS 63 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Chapter Review Questions 1.What groups of people did the New Deal help and why? 2.Why did images of breadlines and migrant farmers become enduring symbols of Depression-era suffering? 3.Why were there labor protests in the thirties, a time when one might expect workers simply to be grateful for any job on any terms? 4.What conflicting visions prompted the right and left to criticize the New Deal? 5.What new roles did the New Deal establish for the federal government in American society? 64 Visions of America, A History of the United States