The New Deal By Sherry DeGenaro

Vocabulary Hydroelectric – electricity produced by moving water. Social Security - provides money to people over the age of 65. Regulation – a rule or law. Minimum wage – sets the lowest amount money most workers can be paid per hour.

Herbert Hoover

President when the Great Depression began. Believed that the federal government should not play a big role in the economy. Thought the economy would improve on its own. Economy continued to get worse. Hoover asked Congress to help to help struggling businesses and unemployed workers. Congress made new laws that loaned money to banks, railroads, and other companies. This did not help the economy either. Some Americans blamed Hoover for the poor economy.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Ran for president against Hoover in “I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.” Thought the federal government should take action to end the depression. Promised to create government programs to help people who were suffering. He was elected President. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

The New Deal Programs created to give people food, shelter, and jobs during the Depression. Quickly passed by congress. Civilian Conservation Corps, CCC, - its goal was to create jobs and conserve the natural environment. Works Progress Administration, WPA, - hired people to build streets, parks, libraries, and schools. Also, paid artists to paint murals and authors to write books. Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA, - built dams on the Tennessee River for flood control and to create hydroelectricity.

CCC &WPA

Programs that continue today. TVA. The Social Security Act – created in Also helps people with disabilities and cannot work. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, FDIC, - protect savings accounts in most banks. Minimum wage.

Economy improved some. Millions still out of work. Never before had the federal government created so many programs to provide jobs for people. The federal government has played a larger role in the economy since Roosevelt’s economy.

Eleanor Roosevelt Wife of President Roosevelt Worked had to get women involved in New Deal programs. Traveled all over the country to see firsthand the problems caused by the Depression. “Government has a responsibility to defend the weak.” Fought for laws that protected the rights of African Americans, as well as speaking out for the rights of workers and children. Began programs like the National Youth Administration that created jobs for young people.

Changes in Tennessee Created electric power for rural Tennessee for the first time. Allowed manufacturing to come to Tennessee which created jobs. Could now have electric lights, refrigerators, and radios. Made life easier on Tennessee Farms. Created lakes that could be used for swimming, fishing, and boating. Taught farmers how to improve the soil so more crops could be grown.

TVA

On the Bad Side TVA took people’s land that had been in their families for a long time. Although it did control flooding in some areas, whole towns were flooded when the dams where built. They remain at the bottom of many lakes created by TVA. The town of Butler that was flooded by TVA.