FDR and The New Deal

Franklin D. Roosevelt Came from one of the wealthiest families in the country Cousin of Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt (26 th president) Married his 5 th cousin, Eleanor New York state senator from 1910 – 1913

FDR Assistant Secretary of the Navy during World War I Started a law practice (lawyer) between WWI and 1929 Governor of New York from 1929 – 1933 Democrat, elected president in 1932 Won 4 presidential elections

FDR In 1921, Roosevelt contracted polio A viral infectious disease that can be spread from human to human In some rare cases, it can cause total and permanent paralysis In Roosevelt’s case, he became paralyzed from the waist down He refused to admit that he was paralyzed Would not allow photographs taken that showed his disability Fitted his legs and hips with iron braces so that he could walk short distances using a cane While in public, FDR attempted to stand upright and hide any disability Founded the March of Dimes (his leadership in this organization is one of the reasons he is commemorated on the dime)

“a new deal for the American people”  Introduced by the FDR administration, the New Deal hoped to bring the 3 “Rs”: Relief (meet immediate needs) Recovery (regain economic foundations) Reform (change so that it won’t happen again)

RA (eventually became the FSA) Farm Security Administration –Rural Rehabilitation –Rural Resettlement –Land Utilization –Over the course of the Great Depression, the FSA loaned over $1 billion to farmers –Set up camps for migrant workers So which of the 3 Rs does the FSA fall under?: Relief (meet immediate needs) Recovery (regain economic foundations) Reform (change so that it won’t happen again)

WPA Works Project Administration Largest of all New Deal agencies, employed millions to complete public works projects Construction of.... Roads Bridges School buildings Other public buildings So which of the 3 Rs does the WPA fall under?: Relief (meet immediate needs) Recovery (regain economic foundations) Reform (change so that it won’t happen again)

CCC Civilian Conservation Corps –Focused on unemployed men (and later women) –Vocational training –One of the more popular programs –Provided economic relief for more than 3 million men and women –Made $1 per day, however, $25 per month was sent back home to parents or spouse.

CCC The agency had several project areas that it would focus on: 1.Structural improvement

2. Transportation / trail improvement

3. Erosion control

4. Flood control

5. Forest rehabilitation

6. Forest protection

7. Landscape and Recreation

CCC So which of the 3 Rs does the CCC fall under?: Relief (meet immediate needs) Recovery (regain economic foundations) Reform (change so that it won’t happen again)

Timberline Lodge, Mount Hood, Oregon

WPA Help went to all, including African Americans who for much of U.S. History had been left out –3.5 million African Americans acquired assistance such as school lunch programs –250,000 African Americans were employed on WPA work projects –Altogether, 45% of African American families were either receiving assistance or employed by the WPA So which of the 3 Rs does the WPA fall under?: Relief (meet immediate needs) Recovery (regain economic foundations) Reform (change so that it won’t happen again)

New hydroelectric dams

Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, Oregon

Distribution of electricity

FAP (a program within the WPA) The Federal Art Project employed artists to complete paintings, and sculptures as well as develop plays among other works of art –Many of the paintings were inspired by Mexican muralist of the time such as Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Sequeriros

TVA Tennessee Valley Authority This mostly rural area, consisting of Tennessee, parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia was hit especially hard during the Great Depression Nearly 30% of the population suffered from malaria More than 80% suffered from malnutrition Some families lived on as little as $100 PER YEAR!!! Farm land was overused Timber land was destroyed

TVA The goal of the TVA was to modernize the area by: Educating farms about the use of fertilizers and crop rotation Replant forest lands and improve wildlife habitat The largest impact however was the creation of electricity through hydroelectric dams on major rivers Only 10% of rural dwellers in the Tennessee Valley had access to electricity

TVA Constructed 16 dams in the Tennessee Valley Employed 28,000 people to help construct and run the hydroelectric dams Brought power to thousands of rural residents So which of the 3 Rs does the TVA fall under?: Relief (meet immediate needs) Recovery (regain economic foundations) Reform (change so that it won’t happen again)

Social Security Administration Before the 1930s care for the elderly was done by family The Great Depression and the widespread unemployment, homelessness and suffering that ensued, created a need for an “insurance” program for the elderly Contributions from employer and employee go to a “pension” or retirement account for each individual When the person retires, depending on the amount each pays into the system, a monthly amount is dispensed This is possibly the longest lasting New Deal program

Social Security Administration So which of the 3 Rs does the Social Security Administration fall under?: Relief (meet immediate needs) Recovery (regain economic foundations) Reform (change so that it won’t happen again)

NLRA (The Wagner Act) In 1934 alone, over 2,000 strikes occurred throughout the U.S. involving over 2 million workers. Labor conflict continued long after the Gilded Age, however, in 1935, the Wagner Act was passed which gave labor unions the legal right to form as well as collectively bargain with employers and strike if necessary

NLRA (The Wagner Act) So which of the 3 Rs does the NLRA fall under?: Relief (meet immediate needs) Recovery (regain economic foundations) Reform (change so that it won’t happen again)

New Deal Critics Although most Americans hailed the efforts of FDR and the New Deal, many raised questions about it’s effectiveness –Big Business (corporations such as General Motors and General Foods) were alarmed at the “socialist” leanings of FDR as well as the skyrocketing federal deficit –Small rural farmers disliked many policies of the New Deal because they were not eligible for most federal loans and grants

New Deal Economic Legacy The rate of unemployment dropped every year The overall number of business failures dropped during the 1930s Farmers benefitted from the New Deal by learning improved farming practices FDR and the New Deal restored confidence in banks Overall, millions of Americans were aided by New Deal programs

New Deal Economic Legacy Unemployment was still at 19% in 1939 The Gross National Product (GNP) grew, yet extremely slowly in the 1930s And possibly most importantly, the federal deficit skyrocketed under FDR and the New Deal