1. FDR & the New Deal

2. Background Born wealthy
Married his distant cousin Eleanor who introduced him to a world he had never seen
TR led Eleanor down the aisle at their marriage
Served as NY state senator
Asst Sec of the Navy
Got polio in 1921
Became governor of NY in 1928
As governor when the GD began he was well known for his innovative relief measures
In 1932 he was elected president

3. Taking Office
Unlike Hoover who was reluctant to institute direct relief programs, this was a major goal of FDR
FDR filled his gov with Repub, Democrats, liberals & conservatives
This select team, known as the Brain Trust, met before he assumed office and developed the New Deal
This was a program designed to alleviate suffering of the GD by focusing on 3 areas:
(1) Relief (2) Recovery & (3) reform

4. First Hundred Days
Period of intense legislation – 15 major pieces of New Deal legislation passed by Congress
Both Houses of Congress had democratic majorities
These laws & others that followed would significantly expand the role of gov’t.

5. Bank Crisis When FDR took office there was a banking crisis
One of his 1st actions is to ask Congress to pass the Emergency Banking Relief Act-partial bank holiday
If banks were sound they could open
If they were insolvent, unable to pay debts, they would remain closed
Those that needed some relief would receive gov loans
This revived public confidence, people deposited funds and the bank crisis was over

6. Bank & Finance Reforms Glass-Steagall Banking Act
Prohibited banks from investing savings in Stock Market
Established Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) to safeguard deposits which restored faith in banks
Truth in Securities Act
All info about stocks must be accurately disclosed
Securities & Exchange Commission
To prevent manipulation of the stock market by “rigging” the market with insider info

7. New Deal Goal #1: Relief to Unemployed
Fed’l Emergency Relief Adm (FERA) was passed by Congress with $500m to distribute
Direct relief of food, clothing & cash to needy
Critics of this program, giving out the dole (gov charity) felt it broke down people’s self esteem & will to work
FDR then proposed jobs
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) employed approx 3m men worked to build roads, trails & improve nat’l park facilities
See pages

8. Civilian Conservation Corp

10. Civilian Conservation Corps Barracks

11. Civilian Conservation Corps

12. Public Works Adm –More Jobs
$3.3 billion to carry out public projects such as:
Schools
Dams
Sewage Systems
Improving highways, gov bldgs
This provided employment as well as stimulated the economy (sound familiar? Stimulus package)

13. Public Works Administration

14. Public Works Administration

15. National Industrial Recovery Act
Purpose was to promote recovery by establishing codes for fair practice by interrupting the trend of wage cuts, falling prices & layoffs.
Govt could not force businesses to adhere to industry standards so they launched publicity campaign
This was known as the Nat’l Recovery Act
Those that complied displayed the NRA sign

19. Agricultural Adjustment Admin
Purpose was to help farmers by raising agric prices by cutting production
Gov paid farmers a subsidy to reduce agric output to allow prices to rise
Bad timing – when AAA began farmers had already planted fields – to adhere to the program they had to plow under those fields and kill livestock
Led to criticism because they were destroying crops while many Americans were hungry

21. Tennessee Valley Authority
Built dams along Tennessee River Valley (1 of the poorest regions in the country) to create hydroelectric power.
Enriched agriculture
Promoted tourism
Provided electricity to 8 states

26. FDR and the People Fireside chats became frequent radio broadcasts
FDR explained his programs in simple language
Held regular press conferences
Skillful communication restored hope & faith

28. Eleanor’s Influence One of the most active first ladies ever
Became FDR’s “eyes and ears”
Embraced many liberal (progressive) causes such as:
Womens Trade Union League
League of Women’s Voters
Ending child labor
Promoting better racial relations (Marion Anderson incident)

29. Evaluation How successful was FDR in each of his goals? Relief
Recovery
Reform

30. The End