1. Ch. 15
The New Deal
U.S. History

2. Electing FDR
Democrats nominated New York governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt as their presidential candidate. Had a “can-do” attitude & a willingness to try anything to ease the G.D.
FDR won 1932 election overwhelmingly.

3. Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was FDR’s wife
Niece of Theodore Roosevelt
She pushed FDR to maintain his
political career after he contracted Polio
She was a major figure of female wing of
the Democratic party in 1920s and early 30s.
In essence, she became the "conscience of the New Deal“
Published a syndicated newspaper column, “My Day”
Lobbied extensively for her husband
Championed causes for women,
children, the poor, and
African Americans
Publicly, she was the most active first lady in American History

4. FDR’s 1932 campaign

6. The Hundred Days / First New Deal
The “New Deal”
FDR’s program, designed to ease the G.D., became known as the “New Deal”. Goals included Relief for the needy, economic Recovery, and financial Reform.
While waiting to take over presidency in 1933, FDR assembled his “brain trust” – advisors consisting of college professors, lawyers, journalists to help him formulate policies for his administration.
The Hundred Days / First New Deal
More than 15 pieces of New Deal legislation passed between March – June 1933.
New Deal programs would be nicknamed “alphabet soup government”.

7. Help for Banks Emergency Banking Relief Act – 1933
FDR wanted to save nation’s banks. Declared “bank holidays” to close all banks and prevent further withdrawals.
Authorized govnt to inspect nation’s banks. Only sound banks could re-open. Revived public confidence in banks.

8. Help for Banks Glass-Steagall Act - 1933
Established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Insured individual bank accounts up to $100,000 & required banks to be cautious w/ customers’ money.

9. Fireside Chats
FDR gave many “fireside chats” over radio to American public. Talked about issues of public concern & explained New Deal measures in clear, simple language. Reassured Americans, asked them to return $$ to banks.

10. Reforming the Stock Market
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Govnt agency that regulates the stock market. Goals were to prevent people with inside information about companies from “rigging” the stock market for their own profit.
Companies must provide truthful information on all stock offerings.

11. Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) – 1933
Help for Farmers
Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) – 1933
FDR sought to provide relief to farmers. To raise crop prices, govnt sought to lower production.
Paid farmers to leave land unseeded, destroy crops, slaughter 6 million pigs.
Critics upset at destruction of food when many were going hungry.
Policy eventually helped raise crop prices & put more $$ in farmer’s pockets.
Farmers dumping milk

12. AAA agency office

13. Creating Jobs Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) – (1933)
Tennessee River Valley one of the poorest, most depressed areas in the nation.
TVA constructed 20 new dams along the river valley, provided flood control, created thousands of jobs, electrified the region.

14. Tennessee Valley Authority (Dams & Electric Power Regions)

15. Creating Jobs Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) –(1933)
CCC put young men to work on conservation projects.
Built roads, planted trees, developed parks, helped w/ flood control, etc.
Paid $30 per month – most sent home to family.
Work camps supplied food, uniforms, and housing.

16. Dance pavilion at Garner State Park
CCC in Texas
Cabins in Bastrop State Park
Dance pavilion at Garner State Park

17. National Recovery Administration (NRA) – 1933
Goal was to promote recovery by stopping wage cuts, falling prices, and layoffs.
Set prices on many products to ensure fair competition, set standard for working hours.
Participating businesses displayed poster with “blue eagle” to show their commitment.

18. Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) – 1933
Allocated $500 million dollars in direct relief to needy. Money given to states to provide food, medicine, clothing for poor.

19. New Deal Criticism FDR vs. the Supreme Court
1935 – Supreme Court struck down NRA as unconstitutional. Federal govnt did not have power to regulate industry codes.
1936 – Sup. Crt. struck down AAA. Agriculture should be regulated by states, not federal govnt.
1937 – FDR feared Sup. Crt might destroy his New Deal. Introduced “court reform” bill to allow him to appoint six additional justices.
Denounced by Congress & press as violation of separation of powers. Bill did not pass.

20. FDR’s plan to target the “nine old men” of the Supreme Court
Court-packing plan led to dissention among Democrats
FDR’s plan to target the “nine old men” of the Supreme Court

21. New Deal Criticism Father Coughlin Dr. Francis Townsend Huey Long
Catholic priest, broadcast radio sermons, felt New Deal did not do enough to help poor.
Dr. Francis Townsend
Physician, believed FDR was not doing enough for poor & elderly. Wanted pension plan that would provide monthly benefits to old.
Huey Long
Louisiana Senator, hoped to win presidency. Proposed “Share our Wealth” program. Promised every citizen $5,000 homestead, $2,500 income, free college. (murdered in 1935)

22. Huey Long at an LSU rally
New Deal Critics
Fiery radio priest Father Coughlin
Huey Long at an LSU rally

23. The Second New Deal FDR Reelected (1936)
FDR won second term as president & began a “Second New Deal”.
Still needed to lower unemployment & provide more aid to farmers and workers.
Many African-Americans began to vote Democrat (instead of Republican) for the first time.

24. Help for Farmers Farm Security Administration (FSA) – 1937
Loaned more than $1 billion to help migrant farm workers. Established camps, helped tenant farmers buy land.
FSA hired photographers like Dorthea Lange to create a pictorial record of rural America. Photographs of poor Americans helped to gain support for New Deal programs.

25. Creating More Jobs Works Progress Administration (WPA) – 1935
Designed to create as many jobs as quickly as possible.
Gave jobs to over 8 million people. Employed a wide variety of Americans – construction workers, women, artists, college-educated professionals, etc.
Professionals wrote city guides, collected historical slave narratives, painted murals on buildings, performed in theater troupes around country.

26. Some WPA work programs….

27. Robertson Stadium at UH (1942-2012)
Joint venture between HISD and WPA

28. WPA

29. Artists of the WPA

30. WPA: Federal Writers Project

31. WPA: Federal Theater Project

32. Help for All Americans Social Security Act – 1935
One of the most important achievements of the New Deal. Provided substantial benefits to millions of Americans.
Gave $ to retirees 65 or older, disabled people, children w/ a deceased parent(s), etc.

33. Conclusion…
N.D. programs funded by deficit spending – spending more money than the government received in taxes (revenue).
N.D. did not end depression, but helped ease suffering.
New Deal laws greatly expanded federal government’s role in the economy.