New Deal Flashcards
What were the hundred days?
4th of March - 16th of June,
FDR’s government passed a lot of laws designed to deal with the Depression
What were the fireside chats?
These were radio broadcasts by FDR in which he reassured people the government was working on ending the depression,
60 million listeners
What was the first measure passed by FDR?
The Emergency Banking Act, in which all the banks were closed for 4 days, 5000 were opened, all of which could be trusted with the publics money,
This encouraged people to reuse the banks and injected money into the economy
How did FDR fix the stock markets on Wall Street?
He passed the Securities Act which forced companies to provide information about their company along side each share
How did he attempt to solve the agricultural problem?
He paid farmers not to produce as much to solve overproduction.
The Agricultural Adjustment Act allowed the government to destroy surplus and control pricing
How did he help the homeless?
He created the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) to create jobs for young men.
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration was set up to give grants to the needy and unemployed
How did he help industry?
NRA created industry and government connection, government would award companies that paid fair wages with blue eagle and government contracts.
PWA used unemployed skilled workers on large construction projects and allowed works to form unions
How did he help home owners?
The HLC gave loans to those who couldn’t afford their mortgage payments and were threatened with eviction
In which region was FDR particularly affective in helping?
In Tennessee the TVA was set up to build dams, this provided lots of jobs in the area, helped with irrigation and flood control and provided the area with electricity
What was the AAA?
The Agricultural Adjustment Administration
Gave money to prevent overproduction and caused farmers incomes to rise
What was the TVA?
The Tennessee Valley Authority, built dams in Tennessee to bring industry and electricity to the very poor area,
However had a poor record of employing black Americans
What was the NRA?
The National Recovery Administration,
Included the PWA.
If business met wage and working conditions standards they could display a Blue Eagle
What was the PWA?
The Public Works Administration offered jobs for large scale construction projects,
Allowed workers to form unions to demand better wages
What was the CCC?
The Civilian Conservation Corps, provided work for young men, mainly work in the country side
How many people did the CCC help? How many were woman?
It helped 2 million people but only 8,000 were women
What did the banking relief act do?
The Emergency Banking Relief Act closed all banks for 4 days and then only opened those that could be trusted with the publics money,
They also invested in the stock market to try and help that recover
What was FERA?
The Federal Emergency Relief Agency, they gave immediate financial relief to the poorest victims
What was the HOLC?
The Home Owners Loan Corporation,
Gave loans to new families who couldn’t afford to maintain their mortgage payments and were threatened with eviction
What was the WPA?
The Works Progress Administration,
Introduced in 1935 as part of a second new deal,
It continued the work of the PWA,
Over 8 years it helped 8 million people find emergency short term employment
By 1936 who began to challenge the new deal?
The Supreme Court believed he was doing too much,
Radical opponents claimed he wasn’t doing enough
How did FDR respond to criticisms of the new deal in 1935?
He introduced a second New Deal with such agencies as the WPA
What did the Supreme Court say some agencies were and which agencies did they believe were?
They declared the PWA and the AAA were unconstitutional,
The PWA as they were interfering with state’s rights
How did FDR attempt to make the New Deal even more radical?
By introducing the Social Securities Act
What did the Social Securities Act do?
It provided old age pensions, unemployment benefits and financial support for the handicapped
What happened following FDR winning a second term in office?
Although he won by a landslide his term was remembered by quarrels with the Supreme Court, increased opposition and a return to Depression
When did FDR become US president?
March 4th 1933
In what way can it be argued the new deal was a success?
Roosevelt restored confidence in the American people.
Millions of people were given work in government projects.
A lot of valuable work was carried out by the in building schools, roads and hospitals.
Roosevelt rescued the banking system from collapse and saved capitalism.
In what way can it be argued the new deal was a failure?
There was a new recession - the ‘Roosevelt recession’ in 1937.
Unemployment was not conquered by the New Deal.
Many of the jobs created by the New Deal were only temporary.
The New Deal was the most costly government programme in American history and some of its projects could be accused of wasting money.
