Women African Americans Indians Workers

 Led by Eleanor Roosevelt  Roosevelt administration employed far more women than any previous administration had.  Frances Perkins  Secretary of Labor

 Eleanor Roosevelt’s key advisor  They connected women to all levels of government  Head of the Women's Democratic National Committee.

 Relationship with FDR  Her marriage had “no fundamental love to draw on” so she threw herself into civic activities.  Published a weekly newspaper column

 Her primary objective.  The administrators spokesperson  DAR and Marian Anderson.  “the first lady stood like a Rock of Gibraltar against injustice”

 The great shift…  In 1928 FDR won just 28% of the black vote.  In 1932 FDR won 71% of the black vote.  What explains this shift?  Considering the past of the democratic party with race, why is this surprising?  Why did Blacks overwhelmingly support the New Deal?  Was the New Deal pro-civil rights?

 Why the shift?  New Deal provided: Roosevelt! You're my man! When the time come I ain't got a cent You buy my groceries And pay my rent. Mr. Roosevelt, you're my man  Establishment of the Black Cabinet under Mary McCleod Bethune  Civilian Conservation Corps and the Public Works Administration, gave them much-needed aid and jobs  Programs overcame early racism (TVA, NRA)

 Secretary of Indian Affairs: John Collier  “We Took Away Their Best Lands, Broke Treaties”  Revocation of the Dawes Act  Indian Reorganization Act  Encouraged a reestablishment of tribalism

 Passed the NLRB  “Supported” workers even in their worst strikes  GM Strike of 1937  “It is ilegal, but shooting them out is not the answer. Why can’t {GM} meet with the workers?”  Result: all automobile manufacturers except Ford sign on with UAW.

 40 hour work week and higher wages in steel industry  Auto and steel unions had 750,000 members by 1937  Fair Labor Standards Act  Abolished child labor  A national minimum wage of.40  Overtime paid at time and a half