Relief, Recovery, Reform

Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) vs. Herbert Hoover ®

FDR wins promised a New Deal aided by experts –

“Brain Trust” 20th Amendment

changes date of inauguration from March to January

period of intense activity

first act – declare a bank holiday◦ all banks closed◦ inspected◦ sent money◦ re-opened

Fireside Chats◦explained

programs

Glass Steagall Act◦ creates the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance

Corporation) Federal insurance on bank accounts (guaranteed to get

your money)

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)◦ investigates wrong-doings in the stock market

PROGRAM DEFINITION

Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

National Industry Recovery Act (NIRA)

Public Works AdministrationCivil Works Administration

Helped farmers by paying them NOT to grow crops to help raise prices

built dams to protect from floods and bring electricity to poor

paid men (18-25) to build roads, develop parks, plant trees and fix soil erosions to prevent another Dust Bowl

created PWA and CWA; also guaranteed workers’ rights to organize and go on strike

build roads, schools, and other public buildings

programs paid through deficit spending

Supreme Court declares NIRA & AAA unconstitutional (state issue not federal)

FDR wants to appoint 6 new justices (court packing)◦ does not get his way

American Liberty League◦ thought New Deal violated

rights of individuals and property

Father Charles Coughlin◦ wanted a guaranteed annual income

Dr. Francis Townsend◦ wanted a pension plan for the poor and elderly

Huey Long◦ “Share-Our-Wealth” clubs◦ wanted to have the government provide home,

food and education◦ wanted to be president was assassinated

FDR re-elected 1936 (2nd term) created new programs to help people Works Progress Administration (WPA)

◦ created 8 million jobs building roads, subways, and airports

Wagner Act◦ re-established right to strike; created NLRB

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)◦ Hear/investigate unfair business practices

Fair Labor Standards Act◦ created 40-hour work week and minimum

wage

Social Security Act◦ old age insurance

(65 & older)◦unemployment

insurance◦ aid to families with

children and the disabled

Brought support to Democratic Party◦ Southern whites◦ urban groups◦ African Americans◦ union members

membership rose to 10 million especially AFL & CIO

Francis Perkins◦ first woman in the

cabinet◦ Secretary of Labor

many still faced discrimination at work◦ earned less than

men

Mary McLead Bethune◦ created Black Cabinet to

advise on racial issues Eleanor Roosevelt

◦ arranged for Marian Anderson to sing on steps of Lincoln Memorial

FDR does not support civil rights

AA vote Democrat b/c New Deal helped them a little

most worked as farm labors for very low wages

they faced racial violence and deportation

they were often excluded from New Deal programs