FDR and the Second New Deal Flashcards
what was the main reasons for the second new deal
-Supreme Court began to overturn New Deal legislation
-Congress was too controlling and FDR wanted to maintain control
-FDR frustrated by the lack of continued support from the wealthy /big business
what were the four acts/administrations of the second new deal
Works Progress Administration
Wagner Act
Social Security Act
Banking Reform Act
what did the Works Progress Administration do and where else was this seen
-recruited ppl for public works projects
-seen in the first new deal with the CCC
by 1941 how much of the nations workforce had found employment in the WPA
20%
what was the wage for workers in the WPA
$52 a month, more than relief but less than the going rate
give 3 figures about what the WPA buikt
1000 airport landing fields
8000 schools and hospitals
12,000 playgrounds
why was Roosevelt reluctant to be involved in labour relations (2)
-USA, especially conservative southern democrats, had a mistrust of labour unions and FDR needed their support
-did not wish to upset big business further
what did the Wagner Act do(2)
-guaranteed workers the rights to collective bargaining /gave them a legal voice
-National Labour Relations Board set up to ensure fair play eg making sure employers did not discriminate against unionists
why was the Wagner Act a big deal
it was the first act that effectively gave unions rights in las
when was the social security act and what were the main things it introduced (2)
1935; unemployment benefits and pensions
before the Social Security act which state provided any form of employment and what was it aimed to do
Wisconsin ; it was a disincentive as former employers would have to pay it
how were pensions and benefits funded under the Social Security Act
pensions ; employer and employee contributions
benefits ; by payroll taxes of employers and employees
how much were paid in pensions and unemployment benefits and were they sufficient
pensions; $10 minimum $85 max a month but not paid until 1940
benefits; $18 a week for 16 weeks only
NOT SUFFICIENT, LOW AND FOR LIMITED PERIOD
when was the banking act and what did it do
1935; centralised banking and gave Washington control
why did the Right oppose the New Deal
-FDR seen as ‘saviour of capitalism’ by big businessmen until he saved it and tried to regulate it
-increased taxes and ‘too involved’ in economy
what Right wing group opposed the New Deal
Liberty League
what were the three Left wing opposition groups
-EPIC end poverty in california
-Share our Wealth
-Father Charles Coughlin
who led EPIC and what did they advocate for
-Upton Sinclair
-unemployed people work in state run co operatives and paid in currency that could only be spent at other co operatives
who led Share Our Wealth and what did they advocate for (3)
-Senator Huey Long
-programme where private fortunes over $3million should be confiscated and every family given enough money for a house, car and radio
-also pensions, min wage that guaranteed $2-3000 a year and free college education
how many members of Share our Wealth were there in clubs and across the states (2)
27,000 in SoW clubs
4.5million in states
who was Father Charlie Coughlin and what did he found and when
priest with a radio programme called the Golden Hour of the Little Flower
he founded the National Union for Social Justice in 1934
how many listeners did Father Coughlin’s radio usually get and how much did listeners contribute to his parish
30-40 million
$5million
what did Father Coughlin’s National Union for Social Justice aim to do
aimed for monetary reform and redistribution of wealth
what did FDR fear from Left wing opposition and how was it stopped
-FDR feared an alliance between Coughlin and Huey Long
-Long was assassinated and Coughlin became increasingly anti semitic by blaming jews for Wall Street and the New Deal which lost him support
how did the Supreme Court oppose the New Deal and give an example
the SC overturned parts of the New Deal 11 times
eg Sick Chicken Case
what happened in the Sick Chicken case
-the NIRA prosecuted the Schechter Brothers for selling unfit chicken meat
-upon appeal to SC it was decided it was an issue for the NY Courts not the Fed Gov
-meant Fed Gov had no right to interfere in internal state issues
what was the Judiciary Reform Bill
-proposed that judges could be forcibly retired and could appoint up to 6 new justices increasing the total to 15
why did FDR propose the Judiciary Reform Bill
FDR thought the Supreme Court was out of touch since none were appointed by him
what became of the Judiciary Reform Bill
-FDR underestimated the popular support of the SC so he seemed like a dictator
-it was rejected 70 votes to 20
