Franklin D. Roosevelt

Question 1

When did FDR contract polio and what did it do to him?

Answer 1

In 1921, it left him wheelchair bound

Question 2

What are two reasons how his condition shaped his politics?

Answer 2

He was grounded by his condition
Empathised with poor people

Question 3

When did FDR become the Democrat’s presidential figure?

Answer 3

In August 1932, the Wall Street Crash was in 1929

Question 4

What was his group of advisors called?

Answer 4

Brain Trust

Question 5

What was his famous plan called?

Answer 5

The Hundred Days

Question 6

How many elections did FDR win?

Answer 6

Four in a row

Question 7

What happened and when was Black Tuesday?

Answer 7

In October 1929, the market in sale of shares collapsed.

Question 8

Give one reason why the Wall Street Crash was regarded as the Great Depression.

Answer 8

Unemployment rose from 3 to 12 million between 1929 and 1932.
1/4 of all farmers had lost their land.

Question 9

What did the first New Deal do?

Answer 9

Gave loans to farmers and homeowners.
Regulated the stock market.

Question 10

What did the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) do?

Answer 10

Gave work to young men by developing parks, building roads and felling trees.

Question 11

What did the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) do?

Answer 11

Built over 5000 public buildings and 7000 bridges, and various other schemes.

Question 12

What did the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) do?

Answer 12

Created cheap hydroelectric power to a poor part of USA.

Question 13

What % of the Tennessee Valley farms had electricity in 1933 - 1945?

Answer 13

2% in 1933, which rose to 75% in 1945 because of the TVA.

Question 14

What did the 1935 Social Security Act (SSA) do?

Answer 14

Granted retirement benefits.
Gave unemployment benefits, $18 per week for 16 weeks.

Question 15

What did the 1935 Wagner Act do?

Answer 15

Strengthen union power.

Question 16

What did the 1935 Revenue Act do?

Answer 16

Raised income tax to 79%.
Force companies to spend their money in the stock markets.

Question 17

How did the 1938 Fair Labour Standards Act help ordinary workers?

Answer 17

Set a min wage of 40 cents.
Max working week of 40 hours.
Affected 12million by 1940.

Question 18

Why was 1941 an important year for economic recovery?

Answer 18

Unemployment halved,
Wages had doubled.
Failing businesses had dropped to 44,000.
USA entered WW2.

Question 19

What % of Americans were in the US army?

Answer 19

12% (12 million people)

Question 20

What are two ways the government got money for WW2?

Answer 20

Took control of large parts of the economy.
Sold war bonds.

Question 21

What happened to debt and GDP by 1945?

Answer 21

GDP increased to $213.6 billion.
Debt also increased.

Question 22

What did the 1935 Wagner Act do?

Answer 22

Increased power of the trade unions.
By 1945, 15 million workers had joined trade unions.