Civil Rights - Depth Study - The New Deal

Question 1

African American Gains from New Deal

Answer 1

• Weaver became Special advisor on Economic Status in 1934 which led to $45mill to build schools, hosp, home
• Over a 1/4 million AA given literacy via federal aid projects
• Eleanor Roosevelt supported movement and disapproved segregation
• NAACP grew in membership in late 1930s

Question 2

African Americans Limitations from New Deal

Answer 2

• Poor sharecroppers could not pay rents, 200,000 evicted
• AA suffered major from unemployment
• Attempt to improve working conditions excluded AA groups
• NRA aims were dismissed in most of the North
• Still segregation in the Army
• Roosevelt did not increase AA voting rights

Question 3

Improvement in the position of organised labour

Answer 3

• Govt. passed number of acts e.g. NIRA, helped improve relations
• Wagner Act gave workers right to elect their own representatives, collective bargaining and also join unions
• Minimum weekly wage improved
• Recognation of Unions encouraged growth - 3.7mill 1933 to 9 mill in 1938

Question 4

Challenges to position of Organised Labour

Answer 4

• Ford did not recognise NIRA or Wagner Act
• NIRA declared unconstitutional by SC 1935
• Unskilled workers on poor pay did not exp. improvements

Question 5

Improvements in Position of Native Americans

Answer 5

• Most important act was Indian Reorganisation Act/Wheeler Howard 1934
• Act allowed NA to practise religion and helped ensure culture
• NA children went to schools and learn about their own culture
• Dawes Act was abandoned

Question 6

Failing of New Deal on Native Americans

Answer 6

• Act continued policy of assimilation, not what NA wanted
• 75 out of 245 NA rejected organisation into self governing bodies
• Idea of separate federal court for NA was abandoned