FDR and the NEW DEAL New Deal Programs Voices of Reaction 1936 Election New Deal Coalition Court Packing Plan Legacy?
NEW DEAL PROGRAMS Federal Emergency Relief Adm. (FERA) Federal Emergency Relief Adm. (FERA) –$500 m., cash relief to unemployed –Against work ethic, ended 1935 Federal Deposit Insurance (FDIC) Federal Deposit Insurance (FDIC) –Fed insured bank deposits up to $5000 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) –Public power utilities in rural Tenn. Valley Security and Exchange Com. (SEC) Security and Exchange Com. (SEC) –Joseph Kennedy: oversaw stock & bond market –Businesses must publish financial report
VOICES OF REACTION The Liberty League: conservative business –N–N–N–New Deal violates free enterprise –T–T–T–They called it “Communism.” Many Dems Father Charles Coughlin: radio show –P–P–P–Populists: free silver, nationalize banks Francis Townsend: old age pension –O–O–O–Over 65 gets $200 per month to spend Huey Long: “Share the Wealth” –H–H–H–Home, car, radio, and income for all –C–C–C–Confiscate millionaire’s wealth
Huey Long of Louisiana
SECOND NEW DEAL Democrats win 1935 mid-term elections huge Democrats win 1935 mid-term elections huge Works Progress Administration (WPA) Works Progress Administration (WPA) –Harold Ickes: 10 years, $6 billion: major projects –Golden Gate, Boulder Dam, Key West road, Social Security: 3 parts: pension over 65 Social Security: 3 parts: pension over 65 –Unemployment, and welfare. Payroll tax “insurance” Wagner Act: established union rights Wagner Act: established union rights –Fair Labor Standards: minimum wage African Americans: not benefited as well African Americans: not benefited as well –But 40% do get aid, 70% vote Democratic Eleanore Roosevelt: helped many groups Eleanore Roosevelt: helped many groups –“My Day:” helped African Americans, more liberal
Eleanore Roosevelt
1936 ELECTION Union Party: Lemke, Townsend, Coughlin Union Party: Lemke, Townsend, Coughlin Republicans: Alfred Landon of Kansas Republicans: Alfred Landon of Kansas FDR Victory: 523 to 8 to O FDR Victory: 523 to 8 to O New Deal Coalition: New Democratic Party New Deal Coalition: New Democratic Party –unions, blacks, city workers, rural farmers Court Packing Plan: Supreme Court Court Packing Plan: Supreme Court –50 federal judges, 6 supreme justices –Failed, but wins in long term Legacy: Evolution or Revolution? Reform Legacy: Evolution or Revolution? Reform –& relief, not recovery. New political coalition.