FDR-Great Depression Test Review Flashcards
What was the key accomplishment of the individual as Assistant Secretary of the Navy?
Modernized the Navy
In what year did FDR die while in office?
1945
What key message did President Roosevelt convey in his inaugural address regarding fear?
Fear is the obstacle to be overcome
What was the main reason for declaring a bank holiday?
to prevent collapse
What did President Roosevelt declare on March 6, 1933, in response to the banking crisis?
Bank Holiday
What reputation did FDR develop in their early political career?
Progressive
What specific action did President Roosevelt require from bankers during the bank holiday?
turn all valuables into the Federal Government
How did the Bank Holiday impact the public perception of the government?
sense of unity and hope
Which statement best summarizes the long-term impact of the Bank Holiday?
beginning of unprecedented government intervention and power
Which of the following statements best describes the tone and delivery of FDR’s Fireside Chats?
Reassuring
What were FDR’s primary goals in starting the “Fireside Chats”?
To show he cared and had empathy
What was the primary goal of the Emergency Banking Act of 1933?
stabilize and restore confidence
How did the Emergency Banking Act hurt the public?
Limited withdrawals from banks for individuals
Who were “conservators” appointed under the Act, and what was their role?
Government appointed people sent to fix problems created by inept employees
- What is the most common nickname for the numerous federal agencies created during the New Deal?
Alphabet Agencies
What was the primary goal of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)?
To decrease supply
What criticism did the AAA face for its animal destroying program?
Cruel and inhumane
What was the primary concern among critics regarding the constitutionality of the AAA?
Direct government control of industry
What did the dairy farmers do in an effort to protest the government’s programs of destroying agricultural products?
Dumped the milk out
What was the primary objective of the TVA’s economic development initiatives?
Crate jobs and better lives
In what way did the reduction in Government spending hurt the American worker?
Reduced government spending resulted in industries failing and cutting jobs
What were the primary criticisms of the TVA’s dam construction projects?
People, in that region, who owned construction companies lost their businesses
How did the availability of electricity through the TVA contribute to “consumerism” in the region?
Those people now wanted to buy goods that required electricity
What is under the water in almost every reservoir that the TVA built?
Towns and houses
What was the initial reaction to the TVA’s creation?
Enthusiasm and feeling of progress
Since the government of the United States owned and operated the TVS, what did critics say?
Socialism was being practiced
How did the construction of TVA dams impact local communities?
forced people to move
How did the TVA’s construction projects affect Native American heritage?
Destroyed cultural lands
The Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA) of 1933 primarily aimed to:
addressed needs by providing necessities to people
How did the FERA distribute relief funds to those in need?
Grant system allocated funds to state and local agencies
What was the approximate amount of funding allocated to the FERA?
500 million
How did the FERA contribute to the overall goals of the New Deal?
Provided immediate relief to many people
What was the primary purpose of the Economy Act?
reduce government spending
What happened as a result of the reduced government spending created by the Economy Act?
people lost jobs
What were the two main groups affected by the Economy Act’s cuts?
Federal Employees and veterans
To what extent were federal employee salaries reduced by the Economy Act?
15%
Why did the Economy Act lead to job losses in the private sector?
reduced demand for goods
What was the name of the policy that the Economy Act used to reduce government spending?
Contractionary Fiscal Policy
How did many Americans view the Economy Act and associated spending cuts?
Betrayal of campaign promises
What was the primary purpose of establishing the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933?
Address issues for young men
What types of opportunities did the CCC offer to participants besides employment?
Vocational skills
How did the CCC program indirectly benefit families of participating young men?
Reducing strain on families in need
How did the CCC program address potential social unrest and trouble in towns and cities?
Providing jobs and structure
What was the primary age range for joining the CCC program?
18-25
What was the most severe punishment for serious offenses in the CCC camps?
See you later, bucko!
What were the primary logistical challenges of working in remote and rugged terrain?
Transportation
The primary purpose of the Social Security Act of 1935 was to:
provide security and benefits
Which of the following did critics of the Social Security Act believe?
too costly and complex
What are the two biggest obstacles for the sustainability of Social Security in America?
living too long and government is in massive debt
With what group of lawmakers did FDR have to compromise in order to get the Social Security Act passed?
Southern Democrats
Which group of workers was excluded from the original Social Security Act due to already having existing retirement benefits?
Federal Employees
What was the primary reason for changing the name from “Social Insurance” to “Social Security”?
avoid looking like socialists
Which group was disproportionately disadvantaged in the original form of the Social Security Act?
Women and minorities
What was the primary aim of establishing industrial codes of fair competition under the NIRA?
Encourage cooperation and self-regulation
What was the main concern addressed by the NIRA’s prohibition on predatory pricing?
preventing wealthy companies from squashing the little guy out of business
The NIRA aimed to achieve its goals through which primary process?
Control and regulation by the NRA
How did the NIRA promote the idea that it “kept government out of business practices”?
Exclude government from the initial creation of codes
What was the primary reason for prohibiting child labor under the NIRA?
reduce adult unemployment
What was a potential weakness of the NIRA’s reliance on voluntary compliance from businesses?
Too big of a nation and way too many companies too look after
What element of the code development process was designed to ensure transparency and public input?
Holding public hearings to discuss codes and decisions
Under the NRA, who had the final authority to approve or reject industry codes?
FDR
How did the NRA’s establishment of minimum prices for goods and services contribute to reducing deflation?
By creating an environment that will encourage consumer spending and a more stable environment
How did the NIRA’s minimum prices protect businesses from economic losses?
Prevent businesses from selling below a price level that would provide profit
What is the term that means ‘prices going way down”?
Deflation
By establishing codes of minimum prices, what could the many industries not do?
Keep from losing money, keep from losing employees and keep from having the Government tell them what to do
Why voluntary rules not really work?
You simply don’t have to follow them
What procedure did the Schechter Poultry company use for killing chickens?
Straight Killing
What was the primary reason the Supreme Court ruled against the government in the Schechter Poultry case?
Found the Live Poultry Code to be an overreach of government authority
What was the primary consequence of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Schechter Poultry case for FDR’s presidency?
Eroded the confidence that the people had in FDR and though he was just trying to extend his authority
How did the Schechter ruling limit FDR’s executive power?
Preventing his direct influence on businesses
How did the Schechter ruling impact the balance between civil liberties and business regulation in the United States?
Protected people from having their rights violated by the Federal Government
Which human activities are identified as contributing factors to the severity of the Dust Bowl?
Deforestation, overgrazing and lack of cover crops
What was the primary goal of the Wagner Act (National Labor Relations Act)?
protect workers’ rights to bargain collectively
What was the main reason behind FDR proposing to increase the number of Supreme Court justices?
He wanted to have judges that would make decisions he liked
What specific principle of government did critics argue was threatened by FDR’s court-packing plan?
He was trying to get around the ‘Separation of Powers “ clause
