1. Who was Franklin Roosevelt?
Distant cousin to Teddy Roosevelt
Rising political star until he contracted polio in 1921
FDR began grueling exercise regimen to walk again
Could stand and walk a little with metal leg braces, but only for short amounts of time
Wife Eleanor helped campaign for him

4. The Brain Trust
The country needs bold experimentation… above all, try SOMETHING.”
FDR, 1933
Roosevelt did not have a firm plan to end the Depression
His goal was “a New Deal” for the American people
He had many advisors from all walks of political, social, and economic groups
Roosevelt’s advisors were nicknamed the “Brain Trust”

6. Fireside Chats Roosevelt was an excellent communicator
He would frequently address the nation by radio
Explained his policies in simple, conversational terms
Presented himself as an optimist to restore public confidence
Bank Chat

8. Relief
Short-term actions designed to tide people over until the economy recovers

9. Recovery
Restore the economy by increasing incentives to produce and rebuild people’s purchasing power

10. Reform
Fix the defects in the American economy to ensure another depression never happens again

12. Emergency Banking Relief Act AKA the Bank Holiday
All banks were closed and inspected by regulators
The stable banks were reopened and certified safe

13. Federal Emergency Relief Act
Funded state and local governments to provide emergency relief and enabled millions to be hired on “make-work” projects

15. Civilian Conservation Corps
Gave jobs to young men, such as planting trees and cleaning up forests
Most pay was sent home to their parents

16. Public Works Administration
Created federal jobs by building public projects, such as school, roads, courts, post offices, and bridges

18. Works Progress Administration
Created jobs by hiring artists, writers, and musicians to paint murals, produce plays, and create other artworks
Murals!

19. Priming the Pump
Roosevelt believed pouring money into the economy would get it working again
More $$ = more demand for products
More demand = more workers making products
More workers = more $$ = more demand

20. National Recovery Administration
Asked businesses to follow codes which set standard prices, production limits, and minimum wages

22. Agriculture Adjustment Acts
Paid farmers to plant less to increase prices
Government bought farm surpluses and stored them until prices went up

24. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Insured bank deposits so that people would not lose their savings in the event of a bank failure

26. Tennessee Valley Authority
Built 21 government-owned dams along Tennessee River, controlling floods and producing electricity

29. Securities and Exchange Commission
Created to watch over the stock market, prevent fraud, and guard against another stock market collapse

31. National Labor Relations Act
Gave workers the right to form unions, collectively bargain, and submit grievances (complaints) to the National Labor Relation Board

33. Social Security Act
Provided workers with unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and insurance if they died early
Workers and their employers each paid contributions to fund these benefits

35. American Liberty League
Who: group of industrialists opposed to the New Deal
Objectives: protect the rights of businesses to operate without government interference
No problem with government policies that assisted or encouraged business
No real popular support
Seen as “organized money”

36. Francis E Townsend
Who: elderly physician and author of the Townsend Plan (which he wrote in a local newspaper)
Objective: have the government pay $200 to every American over the age of 60
Developed a following of (about) five million nationwide

37. Charles E Coughlin
Who: Catholic priest from Detroit with a radio program
Objective: placed the blame for the Depression on Jewish bankers and formed the National Union for Social Justice (a pro-labor group)
30 million followers, but quickly silenced and completely ignored once WWII began

38. Huey P Long
Who: Senator from Louisiana and “Kingfish” of Louisiana politics
Objective: claimed administration was not doing enough to help people and created the “Share Our Wealth” campaign
Guaranteed $2500/ year to every American, free education, a $5000 housing allowance for families, and much much more!
Long assassinated in 1935

39. The Supreme Court Who: the third branch of government
Objective: The Court ruled many New Deal programs (AAA, NIRA) unconstitutional
Roosevelt responded with court-packing plan
Add six new justices to the court to protect New Deal programs from judicial review
Two anti-New Deal justices start to vote in favor of New Deal programs
Plan abandoned