■Essential Question ■Essential Question: –How successful was Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal? ■Warm-Up Question: –What was the goal of the New Deal? How successful was it? –What were the limitations? –How did the New Deal change America? (Long-term impacts?)

The Impact of FDR’s New Deal ■Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs had a significant impact on American history:

The Impact of FDR’s New Deal Political Impact: FDR rejected conservative policies & began a new era of unprecedented gov’t activism to solve America’s problems The New Deal's greatest legacy was a shift in gov’t philosophy. As a result of the New Deal, Americans came to believe that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure the health of the nation's economy and the welfare of its citizens. The New Deal represented a significant shift in political and domestic policy in the U.S., with its more lasting changes being increased government control over the economy and money supply; intervention to control prices and agricultural production; the beginning of the federal welfare state, and the rise of trade union organizations.

The Impact of FDR’s New Deal ■Political Impact: –FDR gave citizens hope by using active gov’t programs, fireside chats, & decisive leadership –The New Deal was the 1 st attempt by the gov’t to take responsibility for the economy & welfare of the American people –FDR introduced deficit spending & welfare programs for the 1 st time

The New Deal and American Life ■Political Impact: –FDR’s leadership unified a new voting coalition for the Democratic Party made up of unions, African Americans, immigrants, & poor voters

The Impact of FDR’s New Deal Economic Impact: The New Deal helped relieve unemployment & provided long-term economic reforms, but it failed to end the Great Depression

The Impact of FDR’s New Deal ■Economic Impact: –The New Deal relieved farmers (AAA), unions (Wagner Act), the unemployed (CCC, WPA) –The stock market (SEC) & banks (FDIC) were stabilized –But, the economy was not stimulated, unemployment remained high, & wealth was still unevenly divided

The Economic Impact of the New Deal Unemployment 10 million were still unemployed in million people were unemployed when FDR took office in 1933

The Impact on Organized Labor ■For the 1 st time, unskilled & skilled laborers were unionized: –Women & African-Americans benefited because they made up a large % of unskilled labors –While the New Deal’s Wagner Act helped make unions stronger, major steps to unionize were initiated by the unions themselves, not the federal gov’t

The Impact of FDR’s New Deal ■Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs had a significant impact on American history:

The Impact of FDR’s New Deal Social Impact: The New Deal helped some, but women & African Americans did not receive equal treatment A letter written by Eleanor Roosevelt to an African- American about her concerns regarding lynching and what the administration’s views are on the topic.

The Impact of FDR’s New Deal ■Social Impact: –The New Deal offered help to groups of Americans in need like the elderly, single mothers, & disabled citizens –First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt campaigned to help minority groups & spoke out against racism in America

The Impact of FDR’s New Deal ■Social Impact: –But New Deal programs allowed for unequal pay scales for women & African Americans –Black workers were often the last hired & first fired & the unemployment rate for African Americans remained near 50% –But, women & African Americans supported FDR

The Impact on Women ■The New Deal brought few economic benefits to women: –The New Deal allowed for unequal wages; Social Security, the NRA, & minimum wage laws offered little help for women ■But, women did see gains in gov’t: –The 1 st female cabinet member, Senator, ambassadors, & judges were appointed under FDR

The 1 st female cabinet member: Francis Perkins (Dept of Labor) The 1 st female Senator: Hattie Caraway (D-Arkansas)

The Impact on African-Americans ■The New Deal did little for blacks: –Racism & segregation remained strong during the Depression –The NRA allowed lower wage scales for black workers; The AAA allowed for the eviction of sharecroppers & tenant farmers –Minimum wage & SS did not apply to farmers & domestic servants (65% were black) The NRA stands for “ Negroes Robbed Again ” AAA is a “ continuation of the same old raw deal ” Social Security “ looks like a sieve with the holes just large enough for the majority of Negroes to fall through ” —NAACP Blacks experienced 50% unemployment rate Blacks were the last hired & first fired

The Impact on African-Americans ■Despite the inequalities of the New Deal, blacks supported FDR: –FDR hired African-Americans to key gov’t positions –Eleanor Roosevelt spoke out against racial discrimination –The RFC brought assistance to 40% of unemployed blacks through the WPA “ While relief & WPA are not ideal, they are better than the Hoover bread lines & they ’ ll have to do until the real thing comes along ”

Eleanor Roosevelt with singer Marian Anderson

The Impact on Mexican-Americans ■Mexican-Americans fared even worse than blacks: –The Dust Bowl led to a flood of whites into the agricultural fields in the southwest –Congress created immigration restrictions & allowed for the deportation of illegal residents to reduce state welfare payments –Received few New Deal benefits

The Impact on Native Americans ■Native-Americans remained the poorest of all U.S. residents but did benefit from the New Deal Indian Reorganization Act –The Indian Reorganization Act shifted U.S. Indian policy from Indians as yeoman farmers to unified & autonomous tribes –Many gained employment in the Indian Bureau

The Impact on the South & West ■The South & West benefited the most from the New Deal: –The AAA helped end Southern dependence on sharecropping in favor of a wage labor system –The West received more work relief & welfare than any region –Hydroelectric power & irrigation programs helped residents

Closure Question: ■ FDR changed the role of the national gov’t. What is the appropriate role of the national gov’t?