1.                                                                                                                                                       
The Great Depression

2. Herbert Hoover 1929-1933 Tried to restore confidence
Helped businesses in hopes of a “trickle down” effect
Created some public works programs to create jobs
Who are we going to blame
For this Great Depression? 

3. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
“I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.”
100 Days – first few months of presidency saw intense action, 15 pieces of New Deal Legislation
Master communicator used “fireside chats” to get his message to the people over radio

4. First lady Eleanor, continued to push humanitarian, women’s, and minority issues to her husband

5. The New Deal in Action Alphabet Soup Programs
Relief
Recovery
Reform RB
Blue book p
Red book p

6. THE NEW DEAL strategies
Action was direct, federal gov’t more involved in economy than ever before
This required lower taxes, but increased gov’t spending
Increased federal regulation over banks, businesses, stock exchange
Deficit spending – gov’t was spending more than taking in to stimulate economy so people would start spending again

7. FDR AND THE SUPREME COURT, CONSTITUTION, AND CRITICS,
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. U.S. 1935
Declared the NRA (National Recovery Act) unconstitutional
Why?
Congress does not have the right to regulate intrastate commerce, (commerce within a state) or pass that to the executive branch
Violated separation of powers by giving this power to the executive branch (Congress is supposed to regulate commerce)

8. U.S. v. Butler 1936
AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act) declared unconstitutional
Why?
Agriculture is a local, not interstate matter according to 10th Amendment

9. TVA Tennessee Valley Authority
Provided jobs, flood control, cheap electricity for rural areas of 7 states
But some criticized it as being socialist

10. The Judicial Reorganization Plan
Also know as the “court packing” plan
New Deal legislation continues to get vetoed by Court so…
FDR wanted the number of Supreme Court justices to go from 9 – 15 if they refused to retire at age 70
What does this threaten?
Separation of Powers and system of checks and balances

12. 3rd Term
Unwritten constitution says presidents should only serve 2 terms
Who started this precedent?
FDR wins a 4th term!
22nd Amendment later passed to limit presidential terms to 2

13. Critics
Less opportunities for women and African Americans than white men
Progressives and Socialist said FDR not going far enough
Republicans and some business owners said programs too socialist, FDR like a dictator, wealthy don’t like higher taxes
Some critical of new role of gov’t and deficit spending that adds to national debt

14. New Deal
Helped with many of the problems of the Depression, but WWII probably helped more
Open up to p. 211 in RB