The New Deal Chapter 23
1932 Election Democrat: FDR 472 electoral/23 million popular Republican: Herbert Hoover 59 electoral/16 million popular Democrats win 2/3 Senate & ¾ of the House
FDR Stricken with polio in 1921 Eleanor Roosevelt: first modern First Lady (“eyes and ears for FDR”) Fireside Chats: radio talks by FDR explaining his New Deal programs Frances Perkins: first woman cabinet official (Secretary of Labor) Black Cabinet: advise FDR on racial issues
Fire Side Chat Fire Side Chat – Banking Crisis What does FDR say about the banking crisis? Why were these “fire side chats” so successful in reassuring the public?
New Deal Relief Recovery Reform
Programs Emergency Banking Relief Act (March 5, 1933) Attempt to restore confidence in banks Glass-Steagall Act (1933) Set up FDIC & insured bank accounts Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulate stock market Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) Raise prices by lowering production: problem?
Programs continued Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Build dams in the Tennessee valley Flood control, electricity, jobs Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Employed 3 million men ages Military set up Conducted conservation projects
New Deal Setbacks & Opposition Court Packing Bill Supreme Court declared NIRA & AAA unconstitutional FDR proposed addition of 6 new justices Congress refused; FDR appointed 7 justices over next 4 years American Liberty League Conservatives which felt New Deal went too far; lacked strong influence
New Deal Setbacks & Opposition continued Charles Coughlin Roman Catholic priest Suggested guaranteed income Had a large radio audience (45 million) but lost support due to anti-Semitic comments Dr. Francis Townsend Suggested a pension of $200/month for elderly; must spend it (stimulate economy) Huey Long “Share our wealth”; emphasized massive tax increase on the wealthy Shot and killed in 1935
1936 Election Democrats: FDR Republicans: Alfred Landon FDR wins landslide (only lost states of Maine & Vermont) Labor & minority vote support FDR
Works Progress Administration (WPA) Harry Hopkins million jobs Spent $11 billion on projects
Other Organizations National Youth Administration Aid high school, college, grad students Wagner Act/National Labor Relations Protected right to join unions & protected labor rights Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) Maximum work week of 44 hours Minimum wage of 25 cents Child labor laws
Social Security Act (1935) Old age pension for 65 & older Paid by employee/employer tax Unemployment & disability compensation Issues today?
New Deal Coalition Diverse Groups that supported the Democratic party Southern whites, urban groups, blacks, labor, women
1930’s culture Golden Age of Radio & Movies No competition from TVs Main source of news & entertainment
1938 Broadcast (2:23) 0K4ApWl4g
Movies “Gone with the Wind” (1939) Clark Gable “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937)
Radio Consisted mostly of future TV programs, not music Orson Welles War of the Worlds (Oct. 30, 1938) Martian invasion that many people believed was actually happening Went on to make “Citizen Kane” in 1941 Voted #1 movie all time by the American Film Institute
May 6, 1937 HindenburgHindenburg (German Zeppelin) exploded over Lake Hurst, New Jersey
Impacts of the New Deal Expanded the government’s role in the economy; banking & finance Protected workers’ rights Social welfare system created Agricultural subsidies created Impacted environment
Positives Helped millions Helped restore hope Reforms may have helped prevent another depression
Negatives Federal government too large Federal government too powerful Deficit spending