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