Issue 4 šŗšø Flashcards
Effectiveness of the New Deal
What was America like before FDR was elected in November 1932
Franklin Delano Roosevelt had been elected in November 1932, at the heights of the Great Depression, a crisis which had caused unprecedented social and economic suffering. FDR promised to introduce the New Deal which would combat the Great depression, through relief, recovery and reform.
Three Rs
Relief, recovery and reform
How far did New deal bring about economic recovery ? KNOWLEDGE
- The Emergency Banking Act 1933, closed all banks for four days to restore confidence in the banking system. It also gave the treasury the power to investigate all banks threatened with collapse.
- Furthermore the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) introduced in May 1933 aimed to help farmers by keeping prices steady and limiting production of staple items
How far did FDRās New Deal provide economic recovery ?
Analysis & counter-analysis
- This act solved the economic crisis as by April, $1billion dollars had been returned to banks which signalled an end to the banking crisis.
However, many Americans felt that the act didnāt go far enough and were critical of FDR as he was using officials appointed by Hoover to carry these acts out. - This act solved economic crisis as it effectively dealt with problem of overproduction, with 95% of farmers signing up to AAA. Thanks to this act, the total farm income rose from $4.5 billion in 1932 to $6.9 billion by 1935.
However, this act only helped wealthy farmers at the expense of tenants and share-croppers. Plus, it controversially slaughter 6 million piglets when millions of Americans were starving.
How far did FDRās new deal deal with economic recovery?
Evaluation
To evaluate, FDR had somewhat solved economic cris as the economy grew every year between 1933-37, after Roosevelt had launched the New Deal. However, unemployment never fell below 14% of working population, showing the New Deal didnāt go far enough to reverse the damage of Great Depression. Indeed, as argued by Americans, the New deal was too modest.
How far did FDRās new deal provide social relief ?
background info
In 1930s, many Americans became hoboes, having to sell worldly possessions, losing their jobs and homes. Many also became destitute. The only help provided was through local authorities, charities, states and charities.
How far did FDRās new deal provide social relief ?
Knowledge
the civilian conservation corps (CCC), was introduced in March 1933. This was when the dept of labour recruited unemployed young men aged 17-24 to work in public. forests, parks
and lands.
Federal emergency relief administration ( FERA ) provided federal money to provide relief for the unemployed through soup kitchens, money to cover clothing and schooling costs.
It also required required each state to set up a FERA office and organise relief programs
How far did FDRās new deal provide social relief ?
Analysis and counter- analysis
This act successfully provided social relief as it gave countless young men new self-respect and valuable life experience. It also improved 10,000 literacy skills. However, the CCC was primarily only open to white men, which meant that groups, such as women and people of colour were excluded and couldnāt benefit from the relief provided by this act.
This act made Americans feel like the government was trying to help them as direct relief from government was provided for the first time.
However, in 1935, FERA paid $25 per month to an average family. However, the minimum wage for subsistence was $100, showing 25$ to be inadequate. Plus, many America entitled to relief were treated abominably by state officials.
How far did FDRāS new deal provide social relief ?
Evaluation
To evaluate, relief did not reach everyone as some people were excluded from certain programmes, such as the CCC, limiting its effectiveness as it didnāt benefit every American. Itās also argued by Peter Clement āBecause of the provision of relief and benefits, more and more people felt they had a stake in their country. It made them feel like they belonged.ā
How far did FDRās new deal reform the role of federal government?
backround
During the Great Depression, although America was one of the richest food producing countries, its own people were going hungry. This could be due to the notion of ālaissez-faireā which was when the government didnāt intervene in the lives of the people, even in emergencies, such as the Great Depression. This ultimately led to reduction of economic activity, loss of income and mass social suffering, as people were only buying the bare minimum to survive as there was no help from the government.
How far did FDRās new deal reform the role of federal government?
Knowledge
The national labor relations act was passed in 1935 and gave workers the right to collective bargaining, through a union of their choice, which could be chosen via a secret ballot. This act also forbade resort to unfair practices, such as discrimination against Trade unions.
The social security act in 1935 provided old age pensions to be funded by employe and employee payroll taxes for unemployment insurance.
How far did FDRās new deal reform the role of federal government?
Analysis and counter- analysis
The national labour relations act reformed the role of federal government as the rights of many workers were protected by the government for the first time in American industry.
The social security act reformed the role of federal government as it provided new state pensions for old people, widows, disabled people and poor children.
However, it cam be argued that this act was generally inadequate to meet the needs of many workers, such as domestic servants and agricultural workers working for small-scale employers.
How far did FDRās new deal reform the role of federal government?
Evaluation
Clearly, the new deal had successfully reformed the role of federal government, as argued by Eric Foner, āNever in American history had a president exercised such power or so rapidly expanded the role of federal government in peopleās lives.ā However, although this reformation had been largely successful, some acts excluded certain people, meaning that the federal government was being selective on who was able to benefit from these aids.
How far did FDRās New deal provide economic recovery? Background
By 1931, banks were closing at a rate of 40 per day, which led to credit collapsing. Moreover, in 1932, 250,000 Americans were evicted from their homes and fell behind on mortgages.
