pages 34-35 of USA A5 booklet (Was the New Deal a success or failure?)

Question 1

What did FDR do to the New Deal in 1937?

Answer 1

FDR cut the New Deal budget in 1937, he laid off many workers employed by the New Deal which meant that unemployment increased again.

Question 2

What was the response to the recession of the New Deal in 1937, what was the effect?

Answer 2

The 1937 recession damaged FDR; many middle class voters lost confidence in him. As a result, the Republicans did well in the 1938 Congressional elections which made it much harder for FDR to pass his reforms. 
FDR was still very popular and won the 1940 presidential election, but the population was no longer united behind the New Deal and most Americans were concerned more about the war.

Question 3

In what 2 ways was the New Deal a success for native Americans?

Answer 3

• The Indian Reorganisation Act of 1934 provided money to help native Americans buy and improve land.
• The Indian Reservation Act of 1934 also helped native Americans to preserve and practice their culture, traditions and laws.

Question 4

In what way was the New Deal a failure for native Americans?

Answer 4

Native Americans remained poor and excluded members of society.

Question 5

What 3 ways was the New Deal a success for black Americans?

Answer 5

• Many blacks benefited from slum clearance projects and housing improvement projects.
• Mary Bethune, a black woman, headed the National Youth Administration.
• Around 200,000 blacks were employed by the CCC and other New Deal agencies.

Question 6

In what 4 ways was the New Deal a failure for black Americans?

Answer 6

• Many agencies discriminated against blacks. They either got no work or lower wages or worse treatment.
• FDR never passed a law to stop lynching, as he feared that southern democrats would not support him.
• The Social Security program was designed to help retired workers and widows, but did not include domestic workers, farmers or farm labourers, the jobs most often held by blacks.
• Out of 10,000 WPA supervisors in the south, only 11 were black.

Question 7

What 2 reasons was the New Deal a success for unemployment and the economy?

Answer 7

• It established banks and cut the number of business failures.
• It created millions of jobs.

Question 8

How many people were unemployed in 1935?

Answer 8

10.6 million

Question 9

How many people were unemployed in 1937?

Answer 9

7.7 million

Question 10

What was the level of unemployment in 1938, why was this?

Answer 10

In 1938 unemployment rose to 10.4 million, because of FDRs cuts on the New Deal due to public pressures regarding cost.

Question 11

What was the level of unemployment in 1941?

Answer 11

6 million

Question 12

What stopped unemployment all together?

Answer 12

The USA entering WW2,.

Question 13

Why did confidence remain low in the 1930’s?

Answer 13

Confidence remained low in the 1930’s with Americans only spending 75%of what they had before 1929.

Question 14

What underlying problem was never solved?

Answer 14

Underlying problem such as the distribution of wealth were never solved.

Question 15

Did it take the US economy longer or shorter time to recover than a European economy?

Answer 15

The economy took longer to recover than most european economies.

Question 16

Who was Frances Perkins?

Answer 16

Frances Perkins was Secretary for Labour and she removed 59 corrupt officials from her department.

Question 17

Who was Mary Bethune?

Answer 17

May Bethune was a black woman who headed the National Youth Administration.

Question 18

Who was Eleanor Roosevelt?

Answer 18

FDR’s wife and an important campaigner on social issues.

Question 19

In 1935, at the peak of the New Deals Works Project Administration era, how many women were employed?

Answer 19

The program employed 460,000 women nationwide.

Question 20

What did local Governments try to do to women?

Answer 20

Local Governments tried to stop paying social security to women by introducing special qualifications and conditions.

Question 21

Why were many New Deal agencies against women?

Answer 21

Most New Deal programmes were aimed at helping young men. Only 8,000 women were employed by the the CCC.

Question 22

How was Frances Perkins attacked my the media?

Answer 22

Frances Perkins was viciously attacked in the press as a Jew and Communist spy. Even her political colleagues ignored her at social gatherings.

Question 23

How did some unions try and become more powerful?

Answer 23

Some unions combined forces to form a bigger, more powerful.

Question 24

Which big union was able to bargain with employers?

Answer 24

The Committee for Industrial Organisation (CIO) in 1935 was big enough to bargain with employers.

Question 25

which union was recognised by Ford and General Motors?

Answer 25

The Union for Automobile Workers(UAW) was recognised by Ford and General Motors

Question 26

Why did FDR support trade unions?

Answer 26

FDR tried to support trade unions and make big corporations negotiate with them about working conditions.

Question 27

What 3 thing did the NRA do that helped industrial workers?

Answer 27

• Gave workers more power against the large industrial giants.
• Improved conditions
• Banned child labour.

Question 28

In 1937 how many strikes were there, how many settled in favour for the workers?

Answer 28

In 1937 there were 4700 strikes. About 80% settled in favour of the workers.

Question 29

Who did companies like Ford and Chrysler employ?

Answer 29

Their own thugs to control local police and intimidate workers and unions.

Question 30

What was the result of most workers strikes? What is an example of this?

Answer 30

Most workers strikes often broke up with violence

e.g. Frankensteen beaten by Ford’s security.

Question 31

Despite challenges from the Government, what happened to big businesses.

Answer 31

Despite challenges from the Government, big businesses remained very powerful.

Question 32

What was the Memorial Day Massacre?

Answer 32

10 demonstrating strikers shot dead by police and 90 injured in Chicago in 1937. Known as the Memorial Day Massacre.

Question 33

what were the average weekly wages in 1929 and 1939?

Answer 33

In 1929 average weekly wages were $25, and in 1939 these had fallen to $23.

Question 34

How much tax did he New Deal with no corruption?

Answer 34

It handed billions of dollars of tax payers money with no corruption scandals.

Question 35

Who much tax did Harold Hopkins handle?

Answer 35

Harold Hopkins handled $10 billion dollars of tax payer money.

Question 36

What did Harold Ickes do to ensure there was no corruption?

Answer 36

Harold Ickes tapped the phones of his own employees to ensure no corruption.

Question 37

What did the fact that there was no corruption in the Government mean?

Answer 37

It meant that people restored their faith in the Government.

Question 38

What valuable resources were created by the New Deal?

Answer 38

Valuable resources were created such as schools, hospitals, roads and bridges.

Question 39

Which New Deal project improved living standards in deprived areas?

Answer 39

Projects such as the TVA improved living standards in deprived areas.

Question 40

What did the New Deal create?

Answer 40

The New Deal created a divide in people, some saw FDR as a communist who was undermining American Rugged Individualist values.

Question 41

What was the problem with big New Deal companies?

Answer 41

Big companies like the TVA were too powerful and small private companies could not compete with their power and money so went bankrupt.

Question 42

In 1930, how much did US states spend on welfare payments?

Answer 42

In 1930, US states spent $9 million on welfare payments.

Question 43

In 1940, how much did US states spend on welfare payments?

Answer 43

In 1940, US states spent $479 million on welfare payments.