Roosevelt& The New Deal Flashcards
Why did Franklin Roosevelt win the election against the republicans?
During the 1930s ordinary people suffered during the depression because of unemployment, cut wages, and starvation because people had no money. Hoover believed in ‘Laissez faire’ -This meant that the government did as little as possible to interfere in people’s lives.
Why did Hoover not help people?
He was worried if he supported them they would be to reliant on the government.
When did Roosevelt become governor on NewYork and what did he do?
He was part of the Democratic Party and became governor of NewYork. He spent $20 million in tax helping the unemployed. He was the first governor to do this and told people how he intended to help with the depression.
What were Roosevelt’s 3 R’s?
Relief- Help in the removal of poverty and help for the sick, old, unemployment and homeless.
Recovery: Boost the economy so people could get jobs. (Government schemes to provide jobs.
Reform: ensure there were welfare provisions in place. (Make America a better place for normal Americans and ensure and depression didn’t happen again.
Name the acts that helped farmers:
FCA: Farm Credit Administrator - loans to farmers who were unable to meet their mortgage payments. There was $100 million loaned out in 18 months.
AAA: Agriculture Adjustment Agency - Farmers had been producing to much food so prices had fallen. The AAA paid farmers to destroy some food they produced to make prices rise due to the short supply. Between 1933-1939 their income doubled but they were destroying food when millions in cities were starving.
How did Hoover react to the depression/ what did he do?
- tried to restart the economy with tax cuts.
- tried to persuade business men not to cut wages.
- set up the reconstruction finance company which supported banks and prevented them from going bankrupt.
- tried to protect US industries by introducing tariffs but this simply prevented international trading and made the Depression worse.
Overall he did nothing to help the people who were suffering.
Name the act(s) that helped factory workers?
NRA: National Recovery Administration - Encouraged workers & employers to get together to work out a code for conditions. Business/factories that guaranteed a decent wage, improved working conditions and a set limit of hours per week got a NRA symbol. This gave rights to join the trade union.
Name Acts that helped the poor/ homeless (such as homeowners):
HOLC: Home Owners Loan Cooperation - Government loaned money at very low rates of interest to people who couldn’t keep up with their mortgage payments. It helped 300,000 homeowners in the first year.
FERA: Federal Emergency Relief Agency - $500 million were given to states so they could spend it on soup kitchens, blankets, clothes and nursery schools (so parents could find a job in the day to earn money)
Acts that helped the unemployed:
CCC: Civilian Conservation Crop - for unemployment ages 18-25. They were given food and shelter in the country side. For a $1 a day they did conservation work - planted trees, cleared footpaths, dug canals, worked on flooding defences. They started a programme to control mosquitos and ended Malaria in America. It created 2.5 million jobs.
CWA/WPA: Civil Works Administration/Workers Progress Administration- provided temporary work for 4 million men by 1941 they had spent 11 million and gave work to 8 million. They built schools, airports, roads and 150,000 public toilets. The CWA changed its name to WPA in 1935 to provide work for for skilled builders and architects, unemployed actors, artists to paint pictures for schools and work researches.
TVA: Tennessee Valley Authority- created thousands of jobs. This was a valley that cut across 7 states that could flood in the winter and be like a desert in the summer. The main focus was to build a series of dams to provide electricity.
What Acts helped Skilled workers and architects?
PWA: Public Workers Administration - they had funds of $3300 million and spent it on buying materials and employing skilled workers to build schools, housing, hospitals, bridges, courtrooms and dams. They built 10 ships and 50 airports.
What was the Emergency Banking Act?
This act closed all banks for 4 days while they inspected them. Only honest ones were allowed to reopen and the Government leant them money to do so. This meant people could their mi year in banks again altogether they put $1 billion in banks. This made Roosevelt more popular because people could trust banks and enabled more jobs. This helped the overall depression because banks could lend money to well run businesses which would create more jobs as they expand.
What was the Economy Act?
His next move was to save money this Act cut they pay of everyone working in the government by 15% including politicians, airforce and navy. This saved almost $1 billion. This made him popular because with us money he could support unemployment. Helped the recovery because thus unemployed no had money & food and could get back on their feet and find jobs.
What was the Beer Act and what did it do?
It made alcohol legal to sell and drink again. No more prohibition which also contributed to lower crime rates. Made Roosevelt popular because people were fed up with problems prohibition caused -gangsters, killings, dealings. This was no longer a problem. Helped recovery because government could make money by taxing alcohol.
What were fireside chats?
This used the radio to explain his ideas. It was a great novelty for American people. He spoke about his personal life (his dog Fala and his family) made him more popular because people believed their president was a man who was genuinely in touch with his people. Helped recovery because it raised awareness about his ideas, restored trust in government and raised peoples morals. He hosted the chats.
