Franklin Roosevelt And The New Deal Flashcards
What can the 1932 election be considered as in US history ?
An ‘turning point’ as it ended republican dominance and began the new order
What was Franklin Roosevelt’s life like prior to 1932? (FDR)?
-from wealthy New York background
-in government since 1913
-vice president in 1920 election for democrats
-elected governed of New York
-had polio which made him severely disabled
What were the strengths and weaknesses of FDR as a presidential candidate in 1932?
• campaign was clear=, relief, recover, reform
• he overcome personal difficulties (polio causing him unable to walk)
• spread hope among the people
• had used radio to simulate himself to individuals using his great spraining ability
-His promises didn’t have as thorough and detail planning on what they might involve which caused suspicion in party
-was vague in his plan as he didn’t really know what to do (BALANCE: also to not alarm business’s of the impact of his reforms)
-had been spoilt as child
What were the strengths and weaknesses of Herbert Hoover as a presidential candidate in 1932 election?
• self made millionaire
• an orphan
• business minded
• organise food supplies in WW1
• not good public speaker
• republican, self individualism and laissez fares politics had damaged US economy badly, so was blamed for the Great Depression
• unpopular as he was seen as a failure
What were FDRs campaign themes that led him to win the 1932 election?
-government intervention needed
- America off gold standard
-business reform and regulated
-business and poeple given sense of hope for better future
(Relief , recover, reform) 3R
What were the results of the 1932 general election?
Roosevelt won dominantly
Electoral vote:
-Democrats- 472 votes
-Republicans- 59
Popular votes percentage:
-democrats- 57% 23 million votes
-Hoover- 39% 16 million votes
Importantly: Democrats won White House, majority in house of representatives, and majority in senate
What was the power vacuum between 1932-1933 and how significant damaging was it to the US?
-the power vacuum was the time where roosevelt had to wait till nov 1932 - march 1933 to exercise his power
First month of 1933:
-unemployment rose
-banking crisis got worse
-farm crisis worsened
Roosevelt held meetings with Hoover to deal with foreign situation , Hoover thought caused it.
,but refused to listen to his policy suggestions to avoid him damaging his reputation
What was the ‘hundred days’?
Slogan used to give a physiological impact to American poeple that they would be rescued through urgent action
-it involved:
• New York stock exchange suspended trading on FDR inauguration
• federal reserve given power to supervise reopening of banks
• ‘fire side’ chats
• Roosevelt used bold instincts more than use support from financial advisers to enforce policies
What was the first New Deal and to what extent did it recover certain sectors of the US?
-Focused on relief and recovery in US
Had established ‘alphabet agencies’ to improve economy and employment
Agriculture:
-(TVA) Tennessee Valley Authority (1933) built dams accross seven states to provide hydroelectric power, flood control & irrigation. To deal with impoverished conditions among valley
-(AAA) agriculture adjustment administration: cut overproduction of wheat, cotton. Culled food sources (piglets)
Banking and finance:
-emergency banking relief act(1933): restore confidence in US banking , investigate bankrupt banks
-glass steagall Act: (1933) provide long term stability for banks like federal deposit insurance federation (FDIC) to insure effective administration of insurance funds
-beer wine revenue act: legalise mild alcoholic beverages
-US off gold standard
Industrial relations:
-(NRA) national recovery administration: encourage businesses, to promote ‘fair practices’ in competition, working conditions abd wages
-(CWA) Civil work administration: provide jobs for unemployed during winter (1933-34) 4 million employed but shut down afterwards
How did the first New Deal provide relief for the US?
Alphabet agencies:
(1933) federal emergency relief act: established federal emergency relief administration: given $500 million for unemployed, made states organise relief programs and raised money fire borrowing or raising taxes
(CCC) civil conservation corps: (1933) department of labor took young unemployed to work in CCC In nation forest, parks & public land
How successful was the first new deal?
-had stabilised financial markets
-protects farmers, home owners by loans
-public works schemes (CCC, CVA) provide employment
-residents near Tennessee valley increased annual income by 200% (1929-1941)
(1934) 22 million unemployed still
“Dust bowl” intensified agricultural crisis
-AAA worsened rural poverty, culling of piglets meant many carcasses usually given to poor / unemployed were reduced, and reduced land for cotton to grow badly affected sharecroppers
Why did Roosevelt push for a second New Deal?
-didn’t want congress to interfere with his consensus
-frustrated by Supreme Courts overturning decision on his legislation
-frustrated by wealthy and big business
[felt he was elected to save America and let down by a lack of support]
What was the second New Deal?
(Reforms and Recovery)
(1935) more radical policies to reform banking system and public utility companies
Reforms:
-Wagner-Conner national labour relations act: right to join union, bargain and strike. set up national labour relations board to aid mediation between workers and bosses.
-social security act: (1935) provide old adage pensions funded by employer and employee contributions, but pensions not paid until (1940).
-banking act (1935) control US banking, removed from private banks to central government and centre of financial management shift to Washington.
-riches were taxed
Recovery:
-(FLSA) fair labour standards act: (1938) set minimum wage and 40 hour work week
-(WPA) work progress administration, recruit Poeple for public work projects, 1000 airports land field built
= trade union membership double (1935-1940)
What populist opposition was there against the first new deal?
-“radio priest” had father Charles Edward coughin denounce Roosevelt policies were communistic and heavily involved Jewish bankers leading the economy. Had 30 million regular listeners
-Huey lang. who started share are wealth movement, attacked big corporations, and disliked Roosevelt for not being radical enough with big business. Established political machine to gain support.as well as sympathised with suffering of lower class individuals .
- Dr Francis Townsend promoted age revolutionary pension scheme to end depression by consumer spending by giving garuented pensions of $200 monthly (unrealistic for gov to handle)
What Supreme Court opposition was there for the new deal?
-they removed the farm mortgage act (farm credit association)(1935)
-ruled out national recovery act as unconstitutional
-(1937) they defeated Roosevelt’s attempts to control the Supreme Court by stopping his “court packing” bill passing that allowed him to appoint 6 new judges to court, one for every individual over 70
