FDR and his New Deals were a failure Flashcards
How well did the economy recover?
Economic recovery was sluggish, in part because many of its measures were contradictory.
What did FDR fail to see?
That massive government expenditure might be necessary to offset the reduction in spending in the private sector.
What was the budget deficit like in 1938?
In 1938, the budget deficit was lower that the $2.5 billion deficit Hoover had run up in 1932 and over which FDR had criticized him in the 1932 election.
Describe the changed in personal income and wages.
- The national total of personal income stood at $86 billion in 1929 and only $73 billion in 1939.
- Wages averaged $25.03 per week in 1929 and $23.86 in 1939.
Describe the unemployment level in 1939.
In 1939, 9 million were still out of work
The Roosevelt Recession of 1937 see?
A return to higher unemployment with 19% of the workforce jobless in 1938.
Why was the CCC criticised?
This program was criticized as “make work”. It was created in November 1933 but abandoned only a few months later in the spring of 1934.
What did Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace call the AAA?
A ‘shocking commentary on our civilization’.
When was the AAA abandoned?
The AAA was abandoned in 1936; when the tax on food processors was ruled unconstitutional.
Describe how the New Deal worked against women.
In 1933 the Economy Act forbade members of the same family from working for federal government. A total of 75% of those who lost their jobs through this measure were married women.
How were the NRA and CCC unjust towards women?
NRA codes allowed for unequal wages. Some agencies, such as the CCC, barred women entirely.
What happened when women did find employment?
It tended to be in low-status, poorly paid jobs. On average during the 1930s, at 25% per annum, women earned half the average wage of men.
What has historian Paul Conkin argued?
The New Deal was too limited in its scope and that it was a missed opportunity for radical change.
What has historian Amily Shales argued?
The New Deal stifled economic recovery. High wage rates, partly as a result of union activities, discouraged employers from taking on more workers.
What stifled the private sector’s ability to create more jobs?
Too much government involvement, in this case the legalisation of labour unions.
