FDR and the First New Deal
The 1932 Election Franklin D. Roosevelt Herbert Hoover Democrat Republican Electoral vote: Percentage: 57.4% 39.7%
Objective... Explain why Americans overwhelmingly embraced the image of FDR as the hope for the their future.
*Objective… Describe the background of FDR. Aristocratic family Believed government could make people’s lives better. 1921: Stricken with Polio… 1928: Governor of NY 1932: Elected 32 nd President - Democrat The only 4 term US President F ranklin D elano R oosevelt Article/ Quiz: A Monumental Man
#17) What personal experience transformed FDR? “Once I spent two years in bed trying to move my big toe… After that anything else seems easy” - FDR
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt The most active First Lady in U.S. history. FDR’s “social conscience”& advisor Supports minorities & the poor Writes, speaks & travels as the “eyes & ears” of FDR Article/ Quiz: Eleanor Roosevelt
FDR promises America… FDR promises… - a “new deal”… - “bold and persistent experimentation”
The Election of 1932 FDR Hoover –Electoral Vote: –Popular Vote: 23m 15.7m –Percentage: 57.4% 39.7% 16) How extensive was the Democratic victory in both the executive and legislative branches?
1933 Inaugural Address FDR symbolized confidence & hope for America… “The only thing we have to fear, …is fear itself” 19) What was FDR’s inaugural message?
*I & E: 20 th Amendment The Lame Duck Amendment - Advanced the inauguration date from March 5 th to January 20 th.
Objective… Describe the government responses under the Roosevelt administration to the social & economic problems associated with the Depression.
The First New Deal
What was the New Deal?... What were the three main focuses of the New Deal?... The 3 R’s… Relief Recovery Reform - The policies put forward by FDR… - FDR promised America a “new deal.”
The New New Deal The 2008 election
J. Doyle, Phila. Daily News March 3, 1933 The message? The symbolism?
I & E: “Brain Trust”… The advisors assembled by FDR… Academics, lawyers, professors & journalists.
*21) What was the Hundred Days? Refers to the first 100 days FDR was in office. - More laws are passed in this time than any other peace time period in our history new laws between March 9 th & June 16th
Since 1933 all administrations are judged for their performance in the first 100 days.
22) What was the “Priming the Pump” concept?... The idiom…“prime the pump”…To do something in order to make something succeed, especially to spend money.
What was Keynesian Economics?... “pump priming” To get the economy going: - Lower taxes - Government spends money (Prime the pump) - Deficit spending by government
Key Legislation of the First New Deal Emergency Banking Act Civilian Conservation Corps Fed. Emergency Relief Admin. Agricultural Adjustment Act Tennessee Valley Authority National Industrial Recovery Act Glass–Steagall Banking Act Truth In Securities Act
The message? The symbolism?
*20) What steps did FDR take to restore the banking system and what success did he have? Emergency Banking Act… AKA: “Bank Holiday” Provided FDR with the means to reopen banks & regulate banking.
Bank Runs – 20% of all banks close
Roosevelt’s Fireside chats... Radio talks given by FDR… Designed to inspire confidence by explaining New Deal measures in plain language.
*The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) 3M young men (18 to 25) found work in road building, forestry labor & flood control.
*Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA) … Formerly the Emergency Relief Administration (ERA) under Hoover. Eventually replaced by the Works Progress Admin. (WPA) Created unskilled jobs Cost $3.1 B in federal funds …20M employed Psychologically beneficial to the male breadwinner.
Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) The AAA decreased crop surpluses by subsidizing farmers who voluntarily cut back on production.
*Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) … Allowed the federal government to build dams & power plants in the TE Valley, to generate & sell the power.
Why is the TVA controversial project?
*Glass-Steagall Banking Act… Forces banks out of the investment business & creates the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to insure bank deposits up to $5,000.
The Beer Act… 21 st Amendment repeals the 18 th Amendment
National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) NIRA – Congress gives FDR the power to manage the nation's business. Goal: Recovery & create jobs to give economic relief The NIRA includes… NRA – National Recovery Administration PWA – Public Works Admin. - Sec. Int. Ickes
* NIRA: National Recovery Administration (NRA) The NRA regulate wages, working hours, prices & recognizes trade unions. Declared unconstitutional in1935: Congress could not delegate its lawmaking power to the President.
National Recovery Administration
NIRA: Public Works Administration $4.2B on large scale projects Constructed schools, hospitals, post offices, roads & dams. Creates jobs
PWAPWA
What criticism is directed at the various WPA projects?