American History Chapter 22-2 The Second New Deal

Democrats Controlled Congress Roosevelt’s Second Hundred Days: Second New Deal: A flurry of presidential & congressional activity. – There was a shift from giving direct aid to providing work opportunities. – WPA: Largest peacetime jobs program in U.S. history. Employed millions. Built roads, airports, zoos. Worked in schools, museums, factories. Hired artists, writers, composers.

WPA

Centerpiece of the Second New Deal Social Security Act: Passed in 1935 – Provided a retirement pension for people 65 and older. – Included unemployment insurance. Provided funds to people while they looked for work. – Excluded farmworkers, household workers, gov’t. employees.

Labor and the New Deal Organized labor gained strength: – NLRB was formed to allow workers to vote on unions. – Congress for Industrial Organizations: CIO was formed by John Lewis.

Labor Continued GM strike in 1936: The CIO led an autoworkers sit- down strike. – Workers refuse to work and to leave the factory. – After 6 wks. GM gave in – it was a huge victory for labor.

Election of 1936 Dem. FDR v. Rep. Alf Landon.

Setbacks for Roosevelt FDR, in 1937, tried to get Congress to reorganize the Supreme Court by making it larger. – He hoped to “pack” the court with New Deal supporters. – He failed & lost support from members of his own party.

Supreme Court 2011 Members: Chief Justice of the United States: JOHN G. ROBERTS, JR. Associate Justices: ANTONIN SCALIA ANTHONY M. KENNEDY CLARENCE THOMAS RUTH BADER GINSBURG STEPHEN G. BREYER SAMUEL A. ALITO, JR. SONIA SOTOMAYOR ELENA KAGAN

Setbacks Continued: Fall of 1937 saw another drop in the stock market. – Led to 2 million layoffs. – Gov’t. deficit was growing: Spending more $ than what it takes in. – Economist John Keynes suggested that deficit spending provides jobs and stimulates the economy.

Do you think Mr. Keynes imagined this much debt?