1. Relief, Recovery, and Reform through New Deal Programs
The Three Rs
Relief, Recovery, and Reform through New Deal Programs

2. FDR’s speech was given at Oglethorpe University in 1932 – he was awarded an honorary Doctorate.
FDR was talking about how to pull the country out of the Great Depression during his campaign:
“The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. The millions who are in want will not stand by silently forever while the things to satisfy their needs are within easy reach. “

3. The Three Rs
Roosevelt was elected and, upon taking office, would launch a large legislative agenda to help the economy and the people of the United States.
He had three overarching goals for these programs:
Relief
Recovery
Reform

4. Relief Imagine walking down the sidewalk and tripping over a crack.
Down you go, and you end up with a broken arm.
Relief is an ice pack and a couple of Tylenol to relieve your pain.
Relief programs were intended to make things more tolerable, but often did not offer long-term solutions.
Immediate action

5. Recovery So you’ve broken your arm and gotten some temporary relief…
Now a trip to the hospital will provide you with an x-ray and a cast.
With the diagnosis, treatment, and time, you should have a full recovery.
Temporary program to improve the economy

6. Reform
You’re all healed now, but the cause of your injury is still out there waiting to trip someone else up…
True reform finds the cause of the problem and aims to alter it to prevent the same issue in the future.
Tearing out that section of sidewalk and installing a smooth new section is the reform that’s needed here.

7. Which R does it aim for?
You will learn about many New Deal programs and should be thinking about what the goal of each was.
Many programs had a primary goal, but had secondary impacts. For instance, the ice was to provide relief, but it also reduced the swelling, which aided in your recovery. It is possible to have more than one purpose.

8. The New Deal
FDR addressed the nation in his second Fireside Chat on May 7, 1933
He explained the actions he had already taken to halt the banking crisis
Next, he assured the country that it was possible to get through the tough time it was facing
Finally, he began to describe programs…
Passages from this speech will be used on following slides.