Transcript Chapter 15
Unit 7: The New Deal “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrat; elected in 1933 Calmed Depression fears by having his “fireside” chats on the radio that explained the New Deal and support. “Hundred Days”- refers to FDR’s first 100 days in office and legislation being passed. More than 15 major pieces of legislation were passed by Congress. The “Working class” got FDR elected 1st thing FDR did was to close all the nation’s banks and ordered strict inspections of the banks Took the nation off the gold standard!! Wanted to regulate the Stock Market Supreme Court did not allow most of the legislations of FDR “Court packing” Second New Deal: openly opposed to big business Businesses did not like the New Deal. They saw it as government control and socialistic. Define: Socialism “Defeat: Court Packing and Executive Reorganization Roosevelt, however, emboldened by the triumphs of his first term, set out in 1937 to consolidate authority within the government in ways that provoked powerful opposition. Early in the year, he asked Congress to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court so as to allow him to appoint members sympathetic to his ideas and hence tip the ideological balance of the Court. This proposal provoked a storm of protest… At about the same time, the administration proposed a plan to reorganize the executive branch in ways that would significantly increase the president's control over the bureaucracy. Like the Court-packing plan, executive reorganization garnered opposition from those who feared a ‘Roosevelt dictatorship’…” From: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Deal Eleanor Roosevelt First Lady, niece of Teddy Roosevelt, distant cousin of FDR, social reformer 6 children Important Domestic Advisor Civil Rights activist Created the Freedom Writers Project The New Deal “Alphabet Soup”: Agencies, Acts, and Commissions National Industrial Recovery Act- NIRA (unconstitutional) Federal Emergency Relief Administration- FERA National Recovery Administration- NRA Civil Works AdministrationCWA Public Works AdministrationPWA Agricultural Adjustment- AAA Sought to raise crop prices by regulating production Would pay farmers subsidizes to not grow or plow under crops on their land Very controversial because may Americans were going hungry at the time Tennessee Valley Authority TVA Seven states affected: Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi Designed to create dams, control flooding, and generate electricity in the south Civilian Conservation CorpsCCC Provided jobs for single males on conservation projects and paid them up to $30 a month $25 of the pay went to their families at home. The men would live in camps, ware uniforms, and engage in such projects such as preventing soil erosion, forest fires, and building dams. Federal Deposit Insurance- FDIC Created by the Glass-Steagall Act Insure customers’ deposits in member banks in the United States Social Security Administration - SSA Provides a pension for retired, disabled, or survivors benefits Works Progress Administration-FDIC Quickly created jobs in all fields – construction to art Securities and Exchange Commission- SEC Created to regulate the Stock Market and to stop the rampant speculation in the Stock Market The Liberty League- pg.493 Group of northern Republicans that wanted the personal and property rights of individuals and the right of private enterprise to have no government control or interference. “The League stated that it would work to "defend and uphold the Constitution" and to "foster the right to work, earn, save and acquire property." In its opinion, the Roosevelt Administration was leading the U.S. toward socialism, bankruptcy and dictatorship.” Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Liberty_League Francis Perkins Served on FDR’s cabinet from 1933-1945 First woman to serve Her accomplishments were: Social Security, The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and the development of the Department of Labor Statistics. “Organized Labor Grew More Powerful during the 1930’s” Rival Labor Unions: Union: American Federation of Labor (AFL) Philosophy: Supported craft unions (Carpentry, plumbing, bricklaying) Members: mostly white males Union: Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) Philosophy: Supported industrial unions (Laundries, textiles, tobacco, factories) Members: minorities and women What separated the two unions? Skilled vs. unskilled workers FDR is the only president to be elected to office 4 times! After FDR: 22nd Amendment Limit on Presidential terms to two terms of 4 years 1951 Ran for 4 terms because of WWII “shouldn’t switch horses” Each term he had a different vice president!! Culture in the 1930’s Although the 1930s was a difficult time for most Americans, the entertainment industry grew with the help of some New Deal Programs 65% of the U.S. population went to the movies 90% owned a radio Culture in the 1930’s Movies: Gone With the Wind (1939), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Marx Brothers Monkey Business and Duck Soup (1931), Radio: Orson Welles, War of the Worlds Wizard of Oz (1939), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)