Life During the New Deal Unit 3 Section 1 Part 9

A. New Roles for Women and African Americans Women and African Americans got more opportunities opened to them during the New Deal Women and African Americans got more opportunities opened to them during the New Deal For the first time, women became prominent government officials For the first time, women became prominent government officials Francis Perkins became the first woman to the Secretary of Labor Francis Perkins became the first woman to the Secretary of Labor Other women served as leaders of New Deal programs Other women served as leaders of New Deal programs

FDR’s administration also appointed African Americans as government officials FDR’s administration also appointed African Americans as government officials FDR created what was called the Black Cabinet FDR created what was called the Black Cabinet –they acted as unofficial advisors to the president –the Black Cabinet was headed by Mary McLeod Bethune That said, African Americans were largely excluded from New Deal programs & continued to suffer That said, African Americans were largely excluded from New Deal programs & continued to suffer

B. Telling the Story of the Depression During the Great Depression, artists wrote and painted about the struggles American’s faced During the Great Depression, artists wrote and painted about the struggles American’s faced John Steinbeck wrote the book the Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck wrote the book the Grapes of Wrath -talked about the struggles that Okies faced during the Dust Bowl -talked about the struggles that Okies faced during the Dust Bowl Dorothea Lange was a prominent photographer Dorothea Lange was a prominent photographer -many pictures that we have from the Depression came from her -many pictures that we have from the Depression came from her These artists helped raise awareness of the poverty that people faced These artists helped raise awareness of the poverty that people faced

C. Popular Entertainment of the 1930s Even during the Depression, people found ways to entertain themselves Even during the Depression, people found ways to entertain themselves 80 million Americans still went to the movies at least once a week 80 million Americans still went to the movies at least once a week A very popular movie was the Grapes of Wrath A very popular movie was the Grapes of Wrath Many films tried to steer away from reality and focused on lighter themes, especially comedy Many films tried to steer away from reality and focused on lighter themes, especially comedy Walt Disney’s Snow White was the first full-length feature cartoon Walt Disney’s Snow White was the first full-length feature cartoon The first movies in color were Gone With the Wind and the Wizard of Oz The first movies in color were Gone With the Wind and the Wizard of Oz

D. Radio and Music People listened to the radio more than ever People listened to the radio more than ever One of the most popular radio shows was The Lone Ranger One of the most popular radio shows was The Lone Ranger Orson Wells produced a radio drama if the book War of the Worlds Orson Wells produced a radio drama if the book War of the Worlds -it was so realistic, that some people actually thought aliens were invading Earth -it was so realistic, that some people actually thought aliens were invading Earth Swing and big band Jazz was the most popular music Swing and big band Jazz was the most popular music

E. Analyzing the New Deal The New Deal did provide Relief to many Americans The New Deal did provide Relief to many Americans The New Deal did not really cause economic recovery The New Deal did not really cause economic recovery -millions of people were still jobless -millions of people were still jobless New Deal reforms provided a lasting effect New Deal reforms provided a lasting effect -social security, FDIC, etc, still exist today -social security, FDIC, etc, still exist today New Deal also provided thousands of miles of roadways, bridges, dams, and public buildings New Deal also provided thousands of miles of roadways, bridges, dams, and public buildings

The New Deal sometimes permitted discrimination against African Americans, Women, and Hispanic Americans The New Deal sometimes permitted discrimination against African Americans, Women, and Hispanic Americans Some new deal leaders were unwilling to go against local standards, including discriminatory ones Some new deal leaders were unwilling to go against local standards, including discriminatory ones

F. End of the New Deal Many critics still claimed that FDR was trying to make the office of President too powerful Many critics still claimed that FDR was trying to make the office of President too powerful Many people opposed the New Deal programs in the late 1930s Many people opposed the New Deal programs in the late 1930s One final piece of new deal legislation to pass was establishing a minimum wage in 1938 One final piece of new deal legislation to pass was establishing a minimum wage in the law also included rules for overtime pay -the law also included rules for overtime pay

Roosevelt gets reelected in 1938 Roosevelt gets reelected in 1938 Many people began to lose focus on the Great Depression and New Deal and begin to focus on a new war in Europe Many people began to lose focus on the Great Depression and New Deal and begin to focus on a new war in Europe