Chapter 22 Flashcards
What was the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation?
Guaranteed bank deposits up to $5,000 to ease banking crisis and ensure trust in banks
Part of the reformation of banks in the First New Deal.
Securities and Exchange Commission: regulated the stock market and made it a safer place for investments.
What was the Tennessee Valley Authority?
TVA
Helped farmers
Built dams in the Tennessee River Valley to control floods and generate electric power.
Aided Rural Southerners, gave them electricity which they hadn’t had.
Replanted forests, built fertilizer plants, created jobs, and attracted industry with the promise of cheap power.
Criticism: “socialist”
Gave government direct power of business
What was a Collective Bargaining?
The Wagner Act gave workers the right to join labor unions and collective bargain.
Meant that employers had to negotiate with unions about hours, wages, and other working conditions.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) looked into workers’ complaints.
What was the Civilian Conservation Corps?
Gave men jobs
Replanted forests, built trails, dug irrigation ditches, and fought fires.
Eventually became more inclusive towards Mexicans and other minorities.
First New Deal.
Who was Charles Coughlin?
Opposed FDR
Roman Catholic Priest
Had a radio show
Talked about FDR not doing enough to fight the depression after originally supporting FDR’s New Deal
Anti-Semitic remarks and spoke against “communists” he said were running the country
Claimed he would support Huey Long in the election; serious competition for FDR
Who was Huey Long?
Critic of FDR’s New Deal
“Share Our Wealth” program: proposed high taxes on the wealthy and large corporations. Redistributed it to poor Americans
Assassinated, no longer a threat to FDR’s presidency
Who was John Maynard Keynes?
Some economists opposed the nation’s deficit spending due to large public works/programs.
Argued that deficit spending was required in order to fix the depression.
Pump Priming: put money in the hands of consumers who would buy more goods and stimulate the economy.
What were Fireside Chats?
FDR spoke to the public on the radio
Made him seem more involved, more relatable
Reassured American people, spoke about how he would fix the run on banks, and assured people not to run to the banks after the bank holiday ended (and they didn’t)
Convinced people that the banks were a safe place to keep their money
What was Social Security?
Social Security Act:
Established unemployment insurance for those who lost their jobs.
Did not apply to domestics or farmers (who were often Mexican/African American)
Meant to comfort those who had lost their jobs and faced poverty
What was the Wagner Act?
Recognized the right of workers to join labor unions/collective bargain.
What was Court Packing?
FDR called to add up to 6 new justices to the Supreme Court. Claimed the rest were elderly and over worked.
Criticism: many said he would give power to New Deal supporters. Accused him of trying to increase presidential power.
Did not end up doing so: the court turned his way on the issues he needed them to, such as a Minimum Wage Law and the constitutionality of the Wagner Act
What was the Black Cabinet?
Unofficial African American advisors that guided FDR.
Mary McLeod Bethune.
New opportunities of African Americans.
What was the Welfare State?
First federal program to assume responsibility for providing welfare for children, the poor, elderly, sick, disabled, and unemployed.
“No on one is left out”
Values in entertainment?
Escapism Strength of Average Americans: Superman Director Frank Capra: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Dreams come true: Wizard of Oz
Woody Guthrie:
Sang about the plights of the Oakies and showed the issues from the Great Depression
Murals celebrated the achievements of working Americans who helped build the nation.
Who was Frances Perkins?
Nominated by FDR to serve as his Secretary of Labor
First female Cabinet member in U.S. history.
Held a lead role in establishing social security.
Helped win approval for the Fair Labor Standards Act: ended child labor and created a minimum wage
