Changing political environment 1933-45 Flashcards
what were the principles behind trumans ‘new deal thinking’
-asked congress for special powers to deal with economic situation, as if it was in terms of a war (so he didnt have to pass everything through congress) and was granted them
-insisted that government was responsible for the welfar of people disregarding rugged individualism (BUT new deal agencies relief was bare minimum and tests to qualify were demeaning)
-promised to balance federal budget, but put this to side once in power as decided implementing government help to citizens as more important
-insisted that rapid national action was important (meant federal government took over some policy making that would have normally been done by individual states, accepted as he insisted it was temporary and introduced war rhetoric to state of economy)
-increase in federal powers meant that the federal institutions he set up to administer his policy were only temporary
what was rapid national action and what emerged as a result of it
-insisted that rapid national action was important (meant federal government took over some policy making that would have normally been done by individual states, accepted as he insisted it was temporary and introduced war rhetoric to state of economy)
-increase in federal powers meant that the federal institutions he set up to administer his policy were only temporary-this was also influenced by some of his plans like the development of Tenesee valley needed federal agency coordinating activities in several states as the project was spread across 7 states (consequentially a series of alphabet agenciest were set up)
what were alphabet agencies and what were some of them called
a series of agencies set up by Roosevelt under the new deal. They were agencies that could coordinate activities across different states. The agencies provided help to different sections of society.
NRA (National recovery administration): set up and enforced codes of practice for businesses like minimum wage and working hours. Public were encouraged to support businesses that displayed the blue eagle NRA symbol
AAA (Agicultural adjustment agency): regulated major crops (wheat cotton, milk), bought surplus crops and subsidised farmers to grow less of overproduced crops
how did the presidency change when Roosevelt took office?
- greatly increasing importance in presidency
FEDERAL ACTION
-increased significantly and passed bills through congress with ease (congress warming to prresidential intervention)
-created a white house staff body to increase federal intervention in government work
PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE
-introduced presidential executive office
-composed of several different departments to deal with federal administration
-increased federal action in gov
-increased importance of presidency
-introduced EXECUTIVE ORDERS
COMMUNICATION WITH PUBLIC
-increased communication with president and citizens (boosting president connectivity and popularity)
-introduced fireside chats where he explained policies to people in a casual manner (received many letters thanking him and asking for help as a result)
MEDIA
-understood media and importance of their support
-used broadcasts and speeches
-held ‘off the record’ press meetings twice a week with selected reporters at the White House
who disliked Roosevelt and why
-wealthier people disliked his policies
-republicans disliked his enlargening powers
-in his 1940 campaign opponents compared him to hitler
-from 1936 the Supreme Court began to rule some agencies as unconstitutional (NRA and AAA)
-people disproved of his violation of seperation of powers by putting supporters in the Supreme Court
how many votes did roosevelt receive
22.8 million compared to 15.8 million
what was the state of depression when roosevelt took over
-25 percent of population unemployed
-12 percent of farmers had lost their land
-thousands of banks still failed or closed
-thousands unable to pay mortgages
how many bills did roosevelt pass in his first 100 days and what did they do
15
-tackled overproduction by paying farmers to produce less
-regulated banking and stock exchange
-aimed to revitalise industry, create jobs and provide unemployment relief
how were the new deal programs discriminatory
relief payments were smaller for black people
what was roosevelts legacy
-after his death truman inherited a very different presidency
-president expected to be involved in legislation
-white house had many more staff, federal boards and committees
-media interaction and expection for president to tell public and media about policies
-president and gov seen as responsible for the welfare of citixens
-president personality gained importance
BUT SEPERATION OF POWERS STILL PREVELENT, CONGRESS STILL HAD TO APPROVE LAWS
what was roosevelts initial reaction to WW2
-after the outbreak of ww2 in europe roosevelt assured citizens via fireside chats the america would ‘remain neutral’
-he sympathised with americas allies, implied where his sympathies lay and said he couldnt ask everyone to remain neutral
-started war production to supplied allies (By 1940 britain was depending on US war supplies)
-he created the LEND LEASE ACT passed in 1941april (lend lease supplies valued at 51 billion after war)- britain was dependent of this act for war supplies
-created destroyers for bases deal (gave 50 naaval destroyers to Britain in return for use of bases in british held countries)
what was the lend lease act and when was it created
-the created the LEND LEASE ACT passed in 1941april (lend lease supplies valued at 51 billion after war)- britain was dependent of this act for war supplies
what were the economic impacts of WW2
-helped haul usa out of depression alongside new deals
BEFORE USA JOINED WAR
-war production boosted industry and farming and led to a significant rise in employment which grew as the war went on
-farmers grew more food and factories churned out increasing amounts of weapons and ammunition
-by 1940 britain was depending on war supplies from the USA
-In 1940 churchill couldnt pay for goods anymore and USA neutrality acts meant roosevelt couldnt give supplies on credit so he came up with lend lease in 1941 (sustained economic gain from britain) lend lease was 51 billion by end of war
WHEN USA JOINED WAR
-usa entered war in 1941 when japan bombed pearl harbour. Unemployment boosted significantly as a result of men joining war
-women stepped in to take their place in farming and industry. Within a year profits rose by 17 million in 1940 to 28 million in 1943.
-wages rose as a result of increased profit
how much did profit in farming and industry increase by from 1940-43
rose by 17 million in 1940 to 28 million in 1943.
what were the social impacts of ww2
-grief, destruction and fear
-of 16 million who went to fight 400,000 died and 600,000 wounded or captured
