Roosevelt's New Deal (1933)

Question 1

Who did it help the most and why?

Answer 1

Blacks - new deal aimed to help those affected by Great Depression which impacted the poorest in society the most

Question 2

How did new deal change relationship between government and the people?

Answer 2

Roosevelt would reassure people on how he planned to fix problems - ‘Fireside chats’ (radio)

Question 3

First New Deal

Answer 3

1933-1934
Psychological support:
-speeches (nothing to fear but fear itself)
-fireside chats
Practical support:
-alphabet agencies

Question 4

Second New Deal

Answer 4

1935-1936
More radical reforming policies:
[alphabet agencies]
-Works Progress Administration (WPA)
-Rural Electrification Administration (REA)
-National Relations Labour Act (Wagner Act)

Question 5

Federal agencies and how they helped blacks

Answer 5

• WPA, NYA, CCC
• help blacks find jobs
• 10% of budgets for blacks who made up 20% of poor

Question 6

Economic impact

Answer 6

• 1935, WPA 15% black workforce
• CCC, 1933 3%, 1938 11%
• NYA hired more black administrators than any other New Deal agency
• 1934 PWA quota for hiring black labourers

Question 7

Social/Cultural impact

Answer 7

• Federal Music Project - funded performances of black composers
• New Deal’s educational programs - 1 million illiterate blacks taught to read and write + increased number of black children in primary schools

Question 8

Political impact

Answer 8

• Roosevelt appointed a greater number of blacks to positions of responsibility within his government than any of his predecessors - “Black Cabinet”/”Black Brain Trust”
• first president to appoint a black federal judge
• promoted a black man to Brigadier General in Army
• first president to publicly condemn lunching as murder

Question 9

Anti lynching bill

Answer 9

Roosevelt couldn’t back - would lose southern supporters

Question 10

Black attitudes to FDR (Roosevelt)

Answer 10

Popular + well liked
Could communicate grievances to government and get sympathy for first time
However he did little to advance racial equality

Question 11

Overall

Answer 11

Wasn’t until FEPC that FDR addressed racial inequality.
Still discrimination in New Deal housing and employment.
FDR didn’t back all legislation favoured by groups like NAACP.
Asa Randolph threatened a march on Washington to get FDR to issue Executive Order 8802 (allowing blacks to participate fully in defends of US)