SSUSH18 The student will describe Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal as a response to the depression and compare the ways governmental programs aided those in need.

a: Describe the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority as a works program and as an effort to control the environment.

During the Depression, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) provided cheap electricity to poor Southerners, using hydroelectric power

Along with cheap electricity, the TVA provided many jobs to this region

Song of the South

a: Tennessee Valley Authority

b: . Explain the Wagner Act and the rise of industrial unionism

One of the biggest accomplishments of the New Deal was putting people back to work

The Wagner Act forced businesses to recognize labor unions

Because of this, popularity of labor unions rose tremendously

b: . Explain the Wagner Act and the rise of industrial unionism

Because of how much the New Deal assisted labor unions, many unions supported the Democratic party for a long period of time. Some still support the democratic party, no matter what, to this day

c:Explain the passage of the Social Security Act as a part of the second New Deal

The Social Security Act provided retirement income for all workers 65 and older.

Also provided benefits to unemployed workers

Only New Deal program still in effect today (Who knows how long it will last?)

Social Security turns 78

d: Identify Eleanor Roosevelt as a symbol of social progress and women’s activism

FDR’s wife, Eleanor, is one of the most influential first ladies in history.

Before she was first lady, she was already very involved in politics and social matters in New York (FDR was governor at the time)

d: Identify Eleanor Roosevelt as a symbol of social progress and women’s activism

One of the biggest ways that Eleanor assisted her husband is that, because of his health condition that left him partially paralyzed, she would make many visits and speeches on his behalf

Since TV was not invented yet, many Americans were unaware of the President’s condition, since they only heard him on radio many times

e: Identify the political challenges to Roosevelt’s domestic and international leadership; include the role of Huey Long, the “court packing bill,” and the Neutrality Act.

Everything was not easy for Roosevelt, as economic recovery did not happen immediately.

Many were against Roosevelt giving the government so much control. Perhaps he had no bigger critic than Senator Huey P. Long from Louisiana.

Long was very much a socialist as he wanted every family a guaranteed income of $2000 per year, with no citizen making more than $1 Million per year. Everything over $1 Million would be taken by the government for taxes

e: the “court packing” bill

Roosevelt had a hard time getting many bills passed the Supreme Court

Since the Constitution did not say how many members could be on the Court, FDR tried to “pack” the court by putting 15 judges on the bench. This would allow him to handpick judges who would allow his legislation to pass.

How many Supreme Court Justices do you think we could have today if FDR was allowed to do this?

e: the “court packing” bill

FDR was forced to withdraw this idea when he was getting comparisons to dictators in Europe who controlled everything. It would also mess up the balance of power as the president could essentially control two branches of government (which two?)

e: the Neutrality Act While FDR was trying to “fix” America, he was also

having to keep an eye on Europe as dictators in Germany and Italy were on the brink of putting that continent back at war.

Japan also got into the act as they tried to take large parts of China using military force

With the U.S. feeling the effects of WWI still, as well as bad economic times, congress passed the Neutrality Act in 1935 that promised to keep the U.S. out of conflict by not allowing the sale of weapons or supplies to other countries

Congress even tried to pass a bill that would require a popular vote before the country could go to war. Could you imagine this today?

As time passed, FDR became more and more in favor of war as he didn’t think that the U.S. could afford to stay out much longer