America 1920-1973: The New Deal

Question 1

In how many days of FDR’s presdency did Americans see more action taken since the Depression?

Answer 1

The first 100 days

Question 2

Describe the Emergency Banking Act.

Answer 2

FDR temporarily closed all banks to have them inspected and well-run banks (with enough cash) would be given loans and would reopen. People then put money back into their accounts. These banks could then lend money to good businesses, creating jobs.

Question 3

What was the Economy Act?

Answer 3

All government employees’ pay was cut by 15%, saving nearly $1 billion.

Question 4

What was the Beer Act?

Answer 4

Prohibition ended so the government could raise money by taxing alcohol, putting gangsters out of business.

Question 5

What was FDR’s reasoning behind the ‘Alphabet Agencies’?

Answer 5

Government creates jobs by spending money— Workers then earn wages so they buy goods— Places hire new workers

Question 6

What are the 8 Alphabet Agencies?

Answer 6

. AAA
. CCC
. CWA
. FCA
. FERA
. HOLC
. NRA
. TVA

Question 7

The AAA (___________ ___________ Administration) paid farmers to produce ____. As a result, food prices ____ and farmers _______ increased. The AAA was criticised because food was being _______ while millions went hungry.

Answer 7

1) Agricultural
2) Adjustment
3) less
4) rose
5) incomes
6) destroyed

Question 8

The CCC (Civilian ____________ _____) put jobless 18 to __- year-olds to work in the _________, creating . million jobs

Answer 8

1) Conservation
2) Corps
3) 25
4) countryside
5) 2.5

Question 9

The CWA (_____ _______ Administration) provided temporary ____ for _ million people building schools, _______ and roads.

Answer 9

1) Civil
2) Works
3) jobs
4) 4
5) airports

Question 10

The FCA (Farm ______ Administration) lent _____ to farmers who couldn’t keep up with ____ payments.

Answer 10

1) Credit
2) money
3) loan

Question 11

Which 4 main groups opposed the New Deal and why?

Answer 11

The rich- raised taxes
Business people- agencies ‘interfered’ with business/ gave more rights to workers
The Supreme court- they decided the AAA was illegal as it was a matter for state governments only and that many NRA codes were illegal.
Republicans- went against ‘laissez-faire’

Question 12

Who was Huey Long and what was his alternative to the New Deal? Was this popular?

Answer 12

He was a Louisiana politician who suggested an alternative called ‘Share Our Wealth’, which was popular despite its radical nature. Fortunes over $5 million would be shared into $5000 for each family to buy a radio, car and house. Also promising cheap food for the poor, houses for veterans and free education.

Question 13

Who was Francis Townsend and what was his alternative to the New Deal?

Answer 13

He was a retired doctor from California who wanted everyone to retire at 60 to free more jobs for the youth.

Question 14

Who was Charles Coughlin and what was his alternative to the New Deal? Was this popular?

Answer 14

He set up ‘National Union for Social Justice’, which aimed to provide work and fair wages to everyone. However, his support declined since he made speeches attacking Jewish people and trade unions.

Question 15

What was the Social Security Act (SSA) of 1935?

Answer 15

Americas first system of social welfare, which included a national system of pensions for the elderly, widows and disabled people. As well as pay for the sick and unemployed.

Question 16

In what way did the New Deal help workers?

Answer 16

. The Alphabet Agencies provided work for both skilled and unskilled workers

Question 17

What Act helped workers after the Supreme Court declared the NRAs fair labour and wages codes illegal? How did it help?

Answer 17

The Wagner Act which gave workers the right to join a trade union

Question 18

What was a downside to the union’s created by the Wagner Act?

Answer 18

Unions were treated with suspicion by some employers.

Question 19

How did the New Deal aid farmers?

Answer 19

Measures were introduced to help raise the price of crops and create loans for farmers to prevent their evictions.

Question 20

Who didn’t see as much benefit as large-scale farmers from the New Deal?

Answer 20

Small-scale farmers didn’t see as much benefit and there was still severe poverty in much of rural America.

Question 21

What issue did the New Deal fail to combat? Provide one example with an Alphabet Agency:

Answer 21

The severe discrimination against African Americans- e.g. CCC campsites were segregated.

Question 22

Despite the discrimination, how many African Americans gained jobs in the CCC?

Answer 22

200,000

Question 23

Name the African American woman who was appointed to an important government post.

Answer 23

Mary McLeod Bethune

Question 24

What did certain government loans provide for Native Americans to do?

Answer 24

Buy more land, set up businesses and buy farming equipment.

Question 25

What did The Indian Reservation Act of 1934 give Native Americans?

Answer 25

The right to manage their own affairs.

Question 26

What did the New Deal fail to target for many Native Americans?

Answer 26

Great poverty and discrimination.

Question 27

Despite being no ___ Deal programmes being aimed directly at ______, many found work in the ________ Agencies or were helped by the ___. However, women still faced ____________. For example, some ___ codes set women’s _____ lower than men’s.

Answer 27

1. New
2. women
3. Alphabet
4. SSA
5. discrimination
6. NRA
7. wages

Question 28

FDR was re-elected in ____ but he was increasingly worried by the ____ of his job creation schemes. He cut the ______ of New Deal schemes and unemployment jumped by _ million as no jobs were being created. Thousands of workers in the car and _____ industries went on strike for better wages and _________. In ____, unemployment rose to __._ million and the car and steel production kept falling. By January ____, FDR acknowledged that the New Deal had ended.

Answer 28

1. 1936
2. cost
3. budget
4. 3
5. steel
6. conditions
7. 1938
8. 10.5
9. 1939

Question 29

Popular culture in the 1930s retained some influences from the ____s (such as jazz music and the ______). However, there was also new influences such as _____ books and ________ inspired by the Great ___________.

Answer 29

1. 1920s
2. cinema
3. comic
4. literature
5. Depression

Question 30

Jazz musicians from the 1920s sold huge number records. Name 3 performers that also found fame.

Answer 30

Glenn Miller, Judy Garland and Bing Crosby.

Question 31

Many people listened to music through the radio, but ___________ sales increased as _____ records became more widely available. There were radio ___________ of poetry, plays, news reports, live _____ and variety shows.

Answer 31

1. gramophone
2. vinyl
3. broadcasts
4. sport

Question 32

Being one of the most popular leisure activities in the 1930s, how many people went to the cinema each week?

Answer 32

Over 100 million people.

Question 33

What 5 genres of cinema were popular in the 1930s?

Answer 33

. Musicals
. Comedies
. Walt Disney cartoons
. Historical dramas
. Horror films

Question 34

_____ books first appeared in the 1930s, but really popularised in ____ after the publication of ______ Comics. This included the debut of _________. Comics were bright, _____, easy to read and provided an escape into a world of adventure.

Answer 34

1. Comic
2. 1938
3. Action
4. Superman
5. cheap

Question 35

Literature was greatly popularised in the 1930s: authors such as _______ Caldwell, John _________ and James T _____ wrote about the _____ Depression. As well as poverty, ______ and social issues they witnessed.

Answer 35

1. Erskine
2. Steinbeck
3. Farell
4. Great
5. racism

Question 36

What did the Alphabet Agency WPA stand for and what was its purpose?

Answer 36

The Works Progress Administration provided work for unemployed artists of all kinds.

Question 37

Name a few things artists in the WPA could do.

Answer 37

. Actors were hired to put on free shows
. Artists painted pictures for display in schools, libraries and parks
. Writers produced guides on every US state

Question 38

What was the WPA criticised for?

Answer 38

Wasting taxpayers’ money.