An assessment of the effectiveness of the New Deal

Question 1

Intro Context

Answer 1

• America in the early 20th century underwent severe economic problems, rooted from the Wall Street crash many industries collapsed which meant unemployment soared from 3% in 1929 to 25% in 1933.
• With over 100,000 businesses going bust and over 10,000 banks which foreclosed between 1929 and 1933, it was clear that the ‘Great Depression’ which America was going through was taking its toll.

Question 2

Intro Factors

Answer 2

• There were many different factors in which the New Deal aimed to address such as Agriculture, Society, the role of Roosevelt and Industry.

Question 3

Intro LOA

Answer 3

• In this essay it shall be contended that the New Deal with some limitations was overall successful in solving America’s problems in the 1930s.

Question 4

Agriculture EXP+EVI

Answer 4

• Agriculture was an area in which the New Deal effectively contributed to solving America’s problems.
• This can be seen by the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933, where the government paid farmers to limit their production in order to keep prices steady.
• Evidence of its success was the income for farmers rose from 4.5 billion dollars in 1932 to 6.9 billion in 1935.

Question 5

Agriculture Analysis

Answer 5

• Arguably, this shows that the Act was successful in improving agriculture as they were able to increase the income of farmers by 2 billion dollars.

Question 6

Agriculture Counterargument

Answer 6

• However, there is evidence to suggest the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 was less effective in solving America’s problems.
• This was because the poorest Americans needed food, and therefore withholding food and increasing the price was not beneficial.
• Evidence of this was at the start of the scheme 6 million piglets were slaughtered.

Question 7

Agriculture counterargument analysis

Answer 7

• Arguably, this shows that the Agricultural Adjustment Act was less successful as millions of animals were killed which would have provided meals for millions of Americans, therefore not solving problems for all Americans.

Question 8

Agriculture Evaluation

Answer 8

• In evaluation, the New Deal was effective in solving America’s problems in the 1930s.
• Despite forcing the slaughter of 6 million piglets which could have provided many meals for those who needed it in America.
• Nevertheless, the Act was successful as it created over 2 billion dollars worth of income for American farmers, in addition the Act managed to get 95% of farmers to sign up, therefore showing their widespread reach and ability to make a change.

Question 9

Society EVI+EXP

Answer 9

• Society was an area in which the New Deal effectively contributed to solving America’s problems.
• This can be seen by the Civilian Conservation Corps 1933, which aimed to improve unemployment and poverty through providing jobs in national forests and parks.
• Evidence of its success was by its first year it employed 250,000 men and 500,000 by 1935.

Question 10

Society ANALYSIS

Answer 10

• Arguably, this shows that the Civilian Conservation Act was effective in solving America’s problem as it was able to provide employment quickly to just around half a million Americans.

Question 11

Society Counter

Answer 11

• However, evidence exists which suggests that the Civilian Conservation Corps was less effective in solving America’s problems.
• This can be seen by the Act being discriminatory to anyone who wasn’t a white male.
• Evidence of this was only 8000 women were ever involved in the program. In addition, Black Americans were either offered a lower wage or no job at all.

Question 12

Society counter analysis

Answer 12

• Arguably, this shows the Act was less effective in solving America’s problems as a result of its prejudice nature, whereby if you were not a young white man there was little chance of you benefitting.

Question 13

Society evaluation

Answer 13

• In evaluation, the New Deal through the Civilian Conservation Corps, effectively contributed to solving America’s problems in the 1930s.
• Although the Act was inherently prejudiced and excluded women and Black Americans.
• nevertheless the act can be regarded as overall successful due to the number of jobs it created, in a society which was ravaged with unemployment, the act also provided education for participants which resulted in over 100,000 workers having improved literacy skills.

Question 14

Role of Roosevelt EXP+EVI

Answer 14

• The role of Roosevelt in the New Deal was another factor which contributed to ridding America of its problems.
• This was seen by Roosevelt’s belief in large scale government action and intervention which was a new idea, contrasting rugged individualism.
• Evidence of this success was Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration in 1933, in which 3.3 billion dollars was invested in order to give jobs in construction.

Question 15

Role of Roosevelt Analysis

Answer 15

• Arguably, this shows the act was successful as Roosevelt pushed for a substantial financial investment into improving employment in America and believed that the government should intervene when people are in need.

Question 16

Role of Roosevelt counter

Answer 16

• However, there is evidence to suggest the Role of Roosevelt was less important in solving America’s issues in the 1930s.
• This can be seen by unemployment still remaining high after the (WPA) was introduced.
• Evidence of this was unemployment never dropped below 14%, and in 1939 9.5 million Americans were unemployed.

Question 17

Role of Roosevelt counter analysis

Answer 17

• Arguably, this shows that the role of Roosevelt in the creation of the (WPA) wasn’t effective in tackling the issue of unemployment as the stark figures show that almost 10 million Americans remained unemployed by the end of the decade.

Question 18

Role of Roosevelt evaluation

Answer 18

• In evaluation, the New Deal through the role of Roosevelt was effective in solving America’s problems in the 30’s.
• Even though unemployment levels didn’t drop to what they did before the Great Depression,
  -nevertheless the Act can be overall regarded as successful due to the government investment which was made.
• This investment portrays a real punch at the problem of unemployment from the government, in addition the act helped employ 2 million Americans by its second year.

Question 19

Industry EXP_EVI

Answer 19

• Industry was another factor which was successfully tackled through the New Deal.
• This can be seen by the Introduction of the National Industry Recovery Act 1933 which aimed to increase workers’ wages.
• Evidence of the act’s success was that if eligible it paid 52 dollars per month.

Question 20

Industry Analysis

Answer 20

• Arguably, this shows the Act was successful as it made sure those who couldn’t find jobs were not left in complete poverty, they were given money so they could spend benefitting not only themselves but also the economy.

Question 21

Industry Counter

Answer 21

• However, there is evidence which suggests that the National Industry Recovery Act wasn’t completely effective in solving America’s problems in the 30’s.
• This can be seen by the act being overruled and thrown out by the supreme court.
• Evidence of this was that the supreme court judged the Act as ‘unconstitutional’ as it gave the federal government too much power over all Americans, in addition major employers such as Henry Ford never subscribed and therefore the Act didn’t really get off the ground.

Question 22

Industry Counter Analysis

Answer 22

• Arguably, this shows the act was less successful as it was ejected by the supreme court for being ‘unconstitutional’ therefore it never had much time to have a real go at solving America’s industries in the 1930’s.

Question 23

INdustry Evaluation

Answer 23

• In evaluation, the New Deal was effective in solving America’s problems in Industry.
• Despite the Act eventually being thrown out by the Supreme Court, and major employers not subscribing to it, it can still
• nevertheless be argued as successful due to the major impact it made whilst in was in legislation, this was seen by not only the fact over billion dollars being put into it but also the fact that over 22 million Americans had access to it.

Question 24

Conclusion

Answer 24

• In conclusion, the New Deal with some limitations was overall successful in solving America’s problems in the 1930s.
• Agriculture overall successful in solving America’s problems as although 6 million piglets were slaughtered which could have been used as meals for those who needed it in America.
• Nevertheless, success was achieved in solving America’s problems in the 1930’s as the income for farmers rose from 4.5 billion dollars in 1932 to 6.9 billion in 1935.
• Likewise, society was an area were the New Deal had overall success in solving America’s problems in the 1930’s as although the Civilian Conservation Corps was discriminatory as only 8000 women were ever involved in the program.
• Nevertheless, by its first year the Civilian Conservation Corps employed 250,000 men and 500,000 by 1935.
• Moreover, the role of Roosevelt in the New Deal was overall successful in solving America’s problems in the 1930’s as although unemployment was still high after the introduction of (WPA) as unemployment never dropped below 14%.
• Nevertheless, the Public Works Administration built nearly 13,000 schools and 50,000 miles of roads were built which shows the New Deal with some limitations was overall successful in solving America’s problems in the 1930s.
• Finally, the New Deal was overall successful with some limitations as Industry was overall successful in solving America’s problems in the 1930’s as although the Supreme Court ruled the National Industry Recovery Act 1933 as unconstitutional as it gave the federal government too much power.
• Nevertheless, the New Deal with some limitations was overall successful in solving America’s problems in the 1930s as National Industry Recovery Act 1933 aimed to increase workers’ wages and that if eligible for the act you were paid 52 dollars per month.
• Overall, the New Deal with some limitations was overall successful in solving America’s problems in the 1930s.