Group 4 Flashcards
PROGRESSIVE ERA #184
184
Time: 1890 through 1920
What: The progressive movement had its roots in prior reform movements attempting to address the problems and inequalities of the Gilded Age. It partially succeeded in improving life for average Americans by curbing big businesses, making the government more responsive to the will of the people, improving health and labor standards, and enacting social welfare legislation. Muckrakers like Upton Sinclair and reformers such as James Addams helped spark the change that occurred during this era. Government began to depart from the tradition of laissez faire and use its power to regulate and reform.
John Muir #185
185
Time: Alive 1838 through 1914
Who: Known as the, “Father of the National Parks” he was an advocate for the preservation of nature during a time when much of it was being overrun by industrialization. His works, such as Mountains of California and Stickeen aided in inspiring a movement (that still persists today) for the conservation of places where people could connect with nature. He also inspired the founding of the National Parks (home.nps.gov).
Jacob Riis #186
186
Time: Alive 1849 through 1914
Who: A Dane who, in the U.S., first worked as a police reporter for the New York Tribune, Jacob Riis became known for his poignant photos on conditions of the slums in Manhattan. His most famous book, How the Other Half Lives, gained vast recognition after its publishing in 1890 for its striking use of photography to demonstrate the awful conditions of poverty but also the humanity that could be found in every person. He is known as, “one of the leading progressive era muckrakers of New York City” and continued lecturing about social conditions until his death (icp.org).
Upton Sinclair/The Jungle #187
187
Time: Alive 1878 through 1968 and book published in 1905
Who/What: Upton Sinclair, a young writer and, “devout socialist” was looking for inspiration for his new novel. So, after blending in as a worker in the “Packingtown” of Chicago, he saw first hand how the meat packing industries were exploiting both the workers and the consumers. So, he wrote The Jungle (a metaphor for capitalism), a novel centered around a Lithuanian immigrant struggling in a capitalistic society as he works at a meat-packing company, with the hopes of convincing the public to turn from capitalism to socialism. The novel, however, mostly horrified Americans with the food they were consuming, sparking the pure food movement and much more stern restrictions on food manufacturing companies (History.com.
W.E.B Dubois/NAACP #188
188
Time: Alive 1868 through 1963 and the NAACP was founded in 1909
Who/What: W.E.B Dubois- the first African American to receive a PhD from Harvard- was one of many in the early 1900s unsettled with the compromising policies of Booker T. Washington, and met with other black intellectuals like him in Niagara Falls in 1905 to put forth policies calling for no discrimination at all based on race or color, among other ideals. When this didn’t work, Dubois helped found the NAACP (the, “National Organization for the Advancement of Colored People”) and served as its director of publicity and research, publishing stories about lynchings and cruelty towards Black people not published by other papers. The NAACP grew through various court victories and awareness throughout the U.S., and is still a prominent organization today (NEH.gov).
Square Deal #189
189
Time: Picked up momentum in 1903
What: Known generally as the decisions made by President Roosevelt that were buttressed by sentiments of “fair play”, a square deal consisted of the, “three C’s”- Corporate regulation, consumer protection, and conservationism. Roosevelt used the term “Square Deal” many times throughout his presidency, such as when talking about African American rights or working conditions. He stated that one should have a square deal as long as they exemplify, “the qualities that entitle him to the respect of his fellows” (TRCenter.org).
Northern Securities Case (1904) #190
190
Time: 1904
What: In order to try to control railroads to the West while bypassing the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890, the J.P. Morgan railroad company (Northern Pacific Railroad) and James J. Hill railroad company (Great Northern Railroad) created the Northern Securities company that held both stocks for the two founding companies and also many other railroad companies. Under the order of Roosevelt, however, Attorney General Philander Knox brought Northern Securites to court for breaching the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, and the court ruled in favor of the government (Edge.SagePub.com).
Jane Addams (Settlement House Movement) #191
191
Time: Alive 1860 through 1935 and movement founded in 1886
Who/What: A founder of the National Child Labor Committee, first female president of the National Conference of Charities and Corrections, founder of the Hull House in Chicago, and Nobel Peace Prize winner (among other things), Jane Addams made significant contributions to the social welfare cause when not much of that was happening in America during the time. The Settlement House Movement comprised of houses all throughout the nation where (mostly native-born) women would provide a place to shelter, care for, and feed families (mostly immigrant families). They also provided connections for these families so they could prosper after leaving the house. The two most prominent were the Hull House and the Henry Street Settlement (SocialWelfare.Library.VCU.edu) (AmericanPageant).
National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA) #192
192
Time: Founded in 1890
What: A combination of the NWSA (favoring a federal constitution amendment) and AWSA (favoring state campaigns) groups, the NAWSA was headed by the goal of getting a vote for women, backed by the fact that they were, “indispensable in the public decision-making process” by how much of a part they were of society. After the role women played in WWI and a series of state campaigns, they finally achieved their goal in 1920 via the Nineteenth Amendment (LOC.gov) (AmericanPageant).
Frederick W. Taylor #193
193
Time: Alive 1856 through 1915
Who: Known as the “Father of Scientific Management”, Frederick W. Taylor rose up the ranks of a company called Middle Steel where he became proficient in treating steel. He created the Taylor-White process for tempering steel and also a high-speed cutting tool for steel. What gave him his name, though, were his views and practices in companies with a majority of hard-laboreres. Taylor proposed in his Principles of Scientific Management that all things that didn’t add value should be taken out and also different ways to get workers to lift the most and work harder. His ideas were controversial then but were widely adopted (and still are today) (ASME.org).
Bull Moose Party #194
194
Time: 1911 through 1912
What: After being President for two terms, Roosevelt decided to run again but, after not being re-nominated by the Republican Party, he formed his own party called the Progressive/Bull Moose Party. This party strove for a, “broad reform platform”, advocating for farm relief, and eight hour workday, and women’s suffrage (to which it did help many states to achieve). While Roosevelt didn’t win, he was the most successful third party candidate in a Presidential race. The party fizzled out after the loss (DP.la).
Federal Trade Commision Act #195
195
Time: Enacted in 1914
What: A standing commission appointed by the President that was meant to, “investigate illegal business practices in interstate commerce” such as reducing unfair competition, ensuring well treatment of consumers, limiting false advertising, and collecting information on various businesses (FTC.gov) (AmericanPageant).
Federal Reserve Act #196
196
Time: Established in 1913
What: A law that established a Federal Reserve Board (appointed by the President) to oversee twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks (also established by this law), the goal being to create some security in the U.S. in banking while creating a more flexible system. It helped the U.S. make it (financially) through WWI and has been adapted a few times since it was established (FederalReserve.gov) (AmericanPageant).
IMPERIALISM AND WORLD WAR I #197
197
Time: 1890 through 1918
What: From 1890 to 1918, the United States became increasingly active and aggressive in world affairs, departing from the tradition of neutrality and isolation. Fueled by economic growth, WASP cultural superiority, and nationalism, the United States expanded its sphere of influence through imperialistic endeavors. American expansionism had roots in the idea of Manifest Destiny and American entry into Asian and American markets around the Civil War. Expansionism became pronounced with the Spanish-American War, resulted in growing American influence in Latin America, the Pacific, and Asia, and eventually led the U.S. into WWI. Immigration, expansion, and racial divisions led to debates over American identity and civil rights.
President Theodore Roosevelt #198
198
Time: 1901 through 1909
Party: Republican
Who: The youngest president so far, Roosevelt was a celebrated Spanish-American War lieutenant colonel, governor of New York State, and V.P. under William McKinley. After McKinley was assassinated, Theodore Roosevelt assumed the 26th Presidency and was quickly known as a, “trust buster” acting under the Sherman Act, received the Nobel Peace Prize for, “mediating the Russo-Japanese War”, and was a life-long conservationist during and after his time in office. He left the Presidency after his second term but ran again three years later, to which he was shot (not fatally) and lost. He died in 1919, proud of his work in life (WhiteHouse.gov).
Spanish American War #199
199
Time: 1898
What: After three years of fighting by those in Cuba seeking to gain independence from Spain, the U.S. sought to aid Cuba (and fight against the Spaniards in hopes of ridding them from the Western Hemisphere) and formally declared war with Spain, sending troops and naval fleets against them. Peace terms were discussed and the war was ended with the 1898 Treaty of Paris, where Cuba was given its independence, the U.S. obtained Guam and Puerto Rico, the U.S. bought the Philippines. The U.S. also annexed Hawaii during the war, and kept developing its economic practices in Asia (History.state.gov).
Alfred Thayer Mahan #200
200
Time: Alive 1840 through 1914
Who: An established naval officer, Mahan was lecturing on history and strategy at the Naval War College in Rhode Island when he published his The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783. This book caused a major shift in naval importance (especially in the U.S.), prompting rapid growth and shifting of the U.S. navy, the development of bases overseas for U.S ships to refuel, and the Panama Canal. He also influenced naval shifts in the militaries of Japan, Germany, and England, his work setting the stage for WWI (Columbia.edu).
Anti-Imperialist League #201
201
Time: 1898 through 1921
What: Formed to oppose the U.S. annexation/oversight of the Philippines (for economic, legal, racial, and moral reasons), it comprised of a diverse group of people- Clergymen, industrialists, university presidents, etc.- from mainly the Northeast, some notable members being Andrew Carnegie and Mark Twain. It was, “the largest lobbying organization on a U.S. foreign-policy issue until the end of the nineteenth century”, but eventually broke down after the 1898 purchase of the Philippines by the U.S. and later struggles between Filipino nationalists and American forces (Guides.lov.gov) (AmericanPageant).
Panama Canal #202
202
Time: Built 1903 through 1914
What: An efficient and cheaper way to transport goods, the Panama Canal- though initially rejected by the Colombian Congress- was given permission to be built after Panama became a Republic. In return for the land, the U.S. had to pay 10 million plus $250,000 a year to Panama. While a great financial and economic-power win for the U.S., it remains as a stiff point in U.S.-Panamanian relations (History.State.gov).
Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine #203
203
Time: 1904
What: Supported by Theodore Roosevelt’s annual message to Congress n 1904, it was an enacted policy of “preventative intervention” that allowed the U.S. to step in in Latin American domestic affairs with the goal of mediating financial and military order. This extension to the Monroe Doctrine was prompted due to a supposed upcoming invasion of Venezuela and was used in following invasions of Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic (History.state.gov) (AmericanPageant).
Open Door Notes #204
204
Time: 1899 through 1900
What: Noting upon what had prior been happening in proceedings but never formally established, the Open Door Notes written by John Hay were diplomatic letters urging international agreement of upholding equal opportunities for trade and commerce with China. Due to the notes, the “Open Door Policy” was established which strove to give the U.S. access to Chinese markets, even though the U.S. was not vastly eminent there. The policy remained for about fifty years (History.state.gov) (AmericanPageant).
President William Howard Taft #205
205
Time: 1909 through 1913
Party: Republican
Who: A lawyer, federal circuit judge, chief civil administrator in the Philippines (to which he did improve the economy some), and Secretary of War, Taft was overall anxious about his presidential campaign and- in some ways- presidency. During his 27th Presidency, he advocated for less Presidential power, upheld his Secretary of the Interior (angering progressives), helped prompt 80 antitrust suits, and helped give states the power for amendment to Federal income taxes and the elections of Senators. He also aided in the establishment of a postal system and restrictions on railroad rates. After his term, he was appointed to- and much more enjoyed the portion of- Chief Justice of the U.S. (WhiteHouse.gov).
President Woodrow Wilson #206
206
Time: 1913 through 1921
Party: Democratic
Who: A professor of political science, President of Princeton University, and Governor of New Jersey, he argued for states’ rights and individualism. As the 28th President, he lowered Tariffs, helped pass the Federal Reserve Act and the Federal Trade Commission, banned child labor, and enforced the eight-hour workday for railroad workers. He then decided that the U.S. must go into war in WWI, and asked Congress to declare war on Germany. During WWI, he presented Congress with the Fourteen Points and proposed the Versailles Treaty (which was rejected). He died in 1924, under the care of his second wife (WhiteHouse.gov).
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand #207
207
Time: 1914
What: The supposed heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand- a general army inspictor at the time- was a firm opposer and criticist of the Serbian people. As he and his wife were making a tour around Bosnia-Herzegovina, a member of a group called the Black Hand named Princip Trifko Grabez shot and killed the Archduke, essentially setting off the firing pistol for WWI (History.com).
Lusistania (Sinking of) #208
208
Time: 1915
What: A British passenger liner that was torpedoed by German forces, killing 1,198 people (128 Americans among them). The sinking was featured in The New York Times and fueled the American public’s resentment towards Germany, adding another log to the fire of the U.S. going to War in WWI (LOC.gov) (AmericanPageant).
Zimmerman Telegram #209
209
Time: March 1917
What: A few weeks after the U.S. had cut off diplomatic relations with Germany, the British government had intercepted and presented the Zimmerman Telegram to the U.S., a plan by Arthur Zimmerman trying to establish a Mexican-German alliance against the U.S.. It was published in America and was another major influence of public sentiment against Germany- and the U.S. declaring war in WWI (Archives.gov) (American Pageant).
Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points #210
210
Time: 1918
What: Called a, “blueprint for world peace” intended to be put into motion after WWI, Woodrow Wilson (based on speeches of “The Inquiry”) proposed fourteen qualities he hoped the world would hold (or would extinguish) after the war. These included ending secret treaties, removing economic barriers, the lessening of arms in countries, and a new committee of nations. While they were mostly scoffed at by other leaders at the end of the war, they did provide a basis for the newly founded League of Nations (Archives.gov) (AmericanPageant).
Treaty of Versailles #211
211
Time: 1919
What: Officially ending WWI, the treaty gave harsh conditions to Germany (taking 10% of its territory in Europe and all overseas territory, making it pay the Allies for the war, naming its leaders as war criminals, among other things) and was centrally focused on the Allied European powers reverting to how they were before the war (just with some new land). It also said the defeated Central Powers could not be included in the Peace Conference, while also rejecting almost all of Woodson’s Fourteen points. Isolationists found in the U.S. opposed the treaty but never were able to convince the Senate to reject it (History.State.gov) (AmericanPageant).
The Great Migration (of African Americans) #212
212
Time: WWI to the Great Depression, 1940 to 1970, and around 1970.
What: The Great Migration had different phases- the first was, from WWI up until the Great Depression, where 1.5 million African Americans traveled from Southern to Northern Cities (as more positions were left open from deployed men), while the second- from ~1940 to 1970, around 5 million African Americans left the South in order to seek new jobs (as they were being replaced by developments in the cotton farming industry) and search for more economic and political freedom in the North and West. It should be noted, though, that there was still MUCH discrimination against African Americans in the North and West. What is also known as the Great Migration is the New Great Migration, where many African Americans traveled back to the South in search of new jobs (Archives.gov) (AmericanPageant).
Schenck v. United States, #213
213
Time: 1919
What: After an incriminating document was found in a search for information of the Socialist party, wanting to be used against the general secretary of the party. Schenck v. United States ruled, however, that even freedom of speech had its limits when a, “clear and present danger” to the U.S. was present. This sustained the Espionage and Sedition Acts (Supreme.Justia.com) (AmericanPageant).
“ROARING TWENTIES” #214
214
Time: 1920 through 1929
What: Disillusionment with the idealism of WWI led Americans to fear change and difference and to retreat into a superficial shell of self-satisfaction, starting with Warren Harding’s campaign promising a “Return to Normalcy”. Beginning in the 1920’s, consumer culture united Americans and helped define the American dream. In the 1920’s, sports, radio, and the automobile were just some of the new popular elements of the industrial economy’s transforming effects on mass society. Also known as the Jazz Age, the backdrop of Prohibition, Women’s Suffrage, and The Harlem Renaissance helped shape this era.
19th Amendment #215
215
Time: 1920
What: After 70 years since the initial gathering for women’s suffrage (Seneca Falls), the 19th Amendment provided that all citizens- no matter their sex- have a right to vote in the U.S. and that, as with other Amendments, this is enforceable by Congress (Constitution.Congress.gov) (AmericanPageant).
The Harlem Renaissance #216
216
Time: ~1910 through 1935
What: Called, “a golden age in African American culture”, the Harlem Renaissance was a movement- based in the Harlem neighborhood of NYC- where African American musicians (a lot of jazz), writers, and social scholars came together to lift up Black culture (in a time where the U.S. contained a lot of discrimination). Key figures were James Weldon Johnson, Charles Spurgeon Johnson, and Langston Hughes (among many others). The Harlem Renaissance sought for new social, political, and intellectual roles for African Americans (History.com) (AmericanPageant).
Marcus Garvey #217
217
Time: Alive 1887 through 1940
Who: A supporter of Pan-Africanism and Black nationalist, he founded the UNIA in Jamaica, an organization that supported Black economic independence through carrying passengers back and forth from one country to Africa (the, “Back to Africa” movement) and spoke out for racial separatism (causing him many criticisms from the Black community). He was sent to jail for mail fraud and deported from the United States to Jamaica, where he continued to speak up for his political ideals and aid the UNIA (Archives.gov).
Volstead Act #218
218
Time: 1919
What: A federal act that enforced the Eighteenth Amendment, it made those in the U.S. banned from manufacturing, selling, and transporting drinks of 0.5% or higher concentration of alcohol (Prohibition). Punishments for violating the act could be those such as property foreclosure. The Act did not, however, prohibit privately drinking alcoholic beverages obtained legally (Constitution.Congress.gov) (AmericanPageant).
President Warren Harding #219
219
Time: 1921 through 1923
Party: Republican
Who: A newspaper publisher, owner of many businesses, head of various fraternal and charitable groups, Ohio State Senator and Lieutenant Governor, and U.S. Senator, Warren Harding was a firm republican striving for peace, equality (in some forms), and technological developments. Through his support of the Republican congressmen, he- as the 29th President- helped cut taxes, establish a Federal budget system, and enforced severe immigrations restrictions, among other things. He and his office were accused of using their positions for personal benefit and harsh public criticism ensued. He died ~ two years into his presidency, however, due to a heart attack (WhiteHouse.gov).
Quota System (Immigration Restriction) #220
220
Time: 1924
What: After a prior restriction on immigrants coming into the U.S. due to literary tests and taxes, the 1924 Quota System altered the preexisting one by saying that 2% (instead of 3%) of the foreign born population could be admitted into the U.S. as a citizen based off of populations in the 1890 (not 1910) U.S. census, while also including citizens born in the U.S.. This Quota System completely denied any immigration from Asia. It was meant to, “preserve the ideal of U.S. homogeneity” and was revised in 1952 (History.State.gov).
Flappers #221
221
Time: 1920s
Who: Called the, “first generation of independent American women”, flappers were young American women who dressed scandalously for the time and had a lifestyle seen as such, too. Flappers stemmed from motives of wanting to keep higher wages for women (as brought on in WWI), upholding the Nineteenth Amendment, and obtaining rights for women to birth control. Designers of the dress of a typical flapper were those such as Coco Chanel and Jean Patou (History.com).
Model T Ford #222
222
Time: Manufactured in 1908 through 1927
What: One of the first modern (of sorts) cars, the Model T Ford was produced by the Ford Motor company after a series of other models, the Model T having a four-cylinder motor and reaching speeds of up to 45 mph. It was also cheap and simple to fix. The Model T encouraged the development of the moving assembly line (as their were over 15 million Model Ts sold). It represents developing technological advancements, a foundation of the assembly line system, and a shift in priorities for the American population (Michiganology.org).
President Calvin Coolidge #223
223
Time: 1923 through 1929
Party: Republican
Who: A lawyer, councilman, and Governor of Massachusetts conservative Republican, Calvin Coolidge was a conservative Republican seeking to uphold the traditional ways of the Presidency and government through not giving into the “material prosperity” many coveted in the 1920s. As the 30th President, he sought to limit the new industrial flourishing using Federal power, cut taxes, separate from foreign policy, and provide restricted aid to farmers. He was a reserved President of few words and bold actions, but was revered by people of the time as a great one. He died four years after his term was over (WhiteHouse.gov).
President Herbert Hoover #224
224
Time: 1929 through 1933
Party: Republican
Who: Known as, “The Great Humanitarian”, Herbert Hoover was a leading engineer in China, helped ~120,000 Americans return to the U.S. after being stranded, was the head of the Food Administration, a member of the Supreme Economic Council and the American Relief Administration, and a Secretary of Commerce before becoming the 31st President. As President, he tried to navigate the U.S. through the Great Depression, cutting taxes and expanding spending in public works, as well as arguing for aids for businesses, farming, banking, and the unemployed. He was also a fan of limited government power. Hoover was painted as crooked, however, and majorly lost the next election. He went on to oppose the New Deal and lead several governmental departments before his death in 1964 (WhiteHouse.gov).
Rugged Individualism (Herbert Hoover) #225
225
Time: Speech given about the topic in 1928 and utilized throughout Hoover’s presidency
What: A system based on “self-reliance” that- at least in Hoover’s case- argued for the U.S. government’s power to decrease and the role of individual organizations and leaderships to increase in American societies so that people would not become reliant on the government. This system can be seen through Hoover’s insistence that aid during the Great Depression would have been best derived from local facilities. This principle, however, didn’t seem to account for just how vast the economic problem was in the 1920’s/1930’s (DigitalHistory.UH.edu).
Stock Market Crash (1929) #226
226
Time: 1929
What: After investors on Wall Street traded ~16 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange on October 29th, thousands of other investors went broke as billions of dollars were lost. This event was a cumulation of decreasing employment and already declining manufacturing businesses of earlier years. The prices in the Stock Market completely fell through on Black Tuesday, the longest and most-detrimental economic plunder up until that point. The Stock Market Crash then prompted the Great Depression (History.com).
GREAT DEPRESSION #227
227
Time: 1929 through 1941
What: The Great Depression marked the greatest crisis in the history of American capitalism. The New Deal led to the new expectation of government intervention to maintain the economic stability of the nation and strengthened the role of the President. The New Deal established a limited welfare state, but was only partially successful in addressing the problems of the depression. Military production to aid the Allies in World War II ultimately pulled the U.S. economy out of depression.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt #228
228
Time: 1933 through 1945
Party: Democratic
Who: The longest-serving President in history (and the only one to serve more than two terms), Franklin D. Roosevelt was a New York Senator, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York, and poliomyelitis survivor. As the 32nd President of the U.S., he helped replenish businesses and agriculture and help the unemployed. He enacted the New Deal, founded Social Security, kept the U.S. out of war in Europe, and planned for and led the U.S. through World War II. He is known for his words, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” He died while in office in 1945 (WhiteHouse.gov).
Dust Bowl #229
229
Time: 1930s
What: The term coined for the drought and dust storm devastated Great Plains region (parts of Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico). Due to the Dust Bowl, thousands of “Okies” and “Arkies” were forced out of their homes and lives and moved to California. The Dust Bowl represents the economy and hardship Americans were facing during the time (Drought.UNL.edu) (AmericanPageant).
New Deal #230
230
Time: 1933 through 1939
What: Seen through Federal power surges in banking reform laws and unemployment, relief, and agriculture programs, the New Deal proposed by President Roosevelt encapsulated the economic and political systems and regulations that Roosevelt imposed in the 1930s in order to trying to get the U.S. out of the Great Depression. It was based on prior progressive era reforms to, “expand greatly an American-style welfare state.” The New Deal did aid in some recovery, but mostly laid the foundation for future Federal involvement in economic affairs (LOC.gov) (AmericanPageant).
Fireside Chats #231
231
Time: Occurred 1933 through 1944
What: A series of ~30 conversations that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had with owners of a radio in America about the U.S.’s state during the Great Depression and- in his later talks- Work War II. The impact of these chats (the name coined by a CBS station manager) was tremendous in connecting the American public with the government, as the oft easy-to-understand conversational manner of speaking made the American people feel as though they were being informed instead of cast aside. People also- during various occasions- sent notes and packages to the White House as a response to the chats (WhiteHouseHistory.org).
Social Security Act #232
232
Time: 1935
What: A great podium of accomplishment for the New Deal, the Social Security Act gave insurance to the old and unemployed by way of taxing employers and those who worked for them. The Social Security Act gave the power to give insurance in such a way to the states (SSA.gov) (AmericanPageant).
Deficit Spending #233
233
Time: (In Roosevelt’s case:) 1933 through 1945
What: Deficit spending is when governmental spending exceeds the revenue the government takes in. In the 1930s and 1940s, deficit spending was quite prevalent in many decisions under FDR’s Presidency, with his New Deal spending, economy/public-works spending, and wartime spending (during WWII). FDR tried to battle some of this by, for example, reducing Federal stimulus spending, but this only angered the public. The Deficit Spending in the war ultimately boosted the economy, and question of whether or not mass government spending could help cure economic recessions was asked then and still remains today (FDRLibraryVirtualTour.org).
Court-packing #234
234
Time: 1937
What: Also known as the, “Court-packing Plan”, it was a scheme by President Roosevelt to add in six new Supreme Court representatives for every one representative exceeding 70 years and 6 months who had served for 10 years. He strove for this seemingly to gain support for his New Deal Reforms. While it never was passed (and opposed by a majority of the public), two of the Supreme Court representatives switched over to support the New Deal reforms and Roosevelt ended up naming nine members to the court (History.com) (AmericanPageant).
