Post on 12-Jan-2016
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The New DealForging a New Deal
Chapter 13 Section 1
Angela Brown
The New Deal became FDR’s program of relief, recovery, and reform aimed at combating problems caused by the Depression.
FDR was not sure exactly how the New Deal would work…
Restoring the Nation’s Hope
Both Eleanor and FDR smoothed public fears Second Bonus March – provided campsites
for veterans – Eleanor paid them a visit Demonstrated new administrations approach
to unrest FDR’s “Fireside Chats” – address nation on
radio the first Sunday after taking office Easy manner and confidence made people
feel better
The First Hundred Days
Had promised “bold, persistent experimentation” no one knew what that would include
From March Inaugration – June 1933 Pushed many programs through
Congress to provide relief, create jobs and stimulate economic recovery
Roosevelt
2 forms of Public communications met with press twice a week – put
achievement and plans in headlines Fireside Chats – talked about
programs and purposes to the nation
“It’s common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails admit it frankly and try another. But above all try something.”
Should government programs to help the elderly and poor be temporary responses to crisis or should they be permanent?
Closing the Banks
March 5, 1933 – FDR ordered all banks to close for next four days
Pushed Congress to pass Emergency Banking Act
Authorized the government to inspect the financial health of all banks
Government found most banks healthy – 2/3 reopened by March 15
Americans gained confidence in banking system
They began to put more money into their accounts than they took out
Allowed banks to make loans that would help stimulate the economy
June – Congress established - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to insure bank deposits up to $5000.
Confidence increased further
Providing Relief and Creating Jobs May Congress passed Federal Emergency
Relief Administration (Fera) Sent funds to overburdened local relief
agencies Gave out $5 million in first two hours in office
(Harry Hopkins) Fera put money into Public – works programs
– government funded projects to build public facilities
Nov. 1933 Civil Works Administration (CWA) gave jobs building roads, parks, airports – 4 million employed – boosted moral
March 1933 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) – FDR’s favorite program – 2.5 unmarried young men restored/maintained forests, beaches, and parks
CCC earned $1 a day – lived in camp free, received food, med. Care and job training
Eleanor created similar program for young women 8500 took part
Native American workers built schools, hospitals, and irrigation systems (through Indian Affairs)
Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 – ended sale of tribal lands begun under Dawes Act (1887) and restored ownership of some lands to Indian groups.
A Helping Hand to Business
National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) – established the National Recovery Administration (NRA) – an agency that set out to balance the unstable economy through sensible planning
Industry wide codes to spell out fair practices – regulated wages, working conditions, production, and even prices, set a minimum wage and gave organized labor collective bargaining rights (allowed workers to negotiate as a group)
Worked for a while but higher wages = higher prices – people stopped buying
Businesses soon complained that the codes were too complicated and control by the NRA was too rigid.
Best part of NIRA – Public Works Administration (PWA) – built Grand Caulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington, Causeway connecting Key West to Florida Mainland, Triborough Bridge in NY City
Federal Securities Act – required companies to provide information about their finances if they offered stock for sale
Congress reformed Stock Market Congress set up Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) to regulate the stock market – tell companies what info must be included in their financial statements
Congress gave Federal Reserve board power to regulate the purchase of stock on-margin
Saving Homes and Farms
Home Owner’s Loan Corporation (HOLC) refinanced, or reshaped terms of mortgage payments more manageable – 3 year period made about one million low-interest loans
Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) tried to raise farm prices through subsidies or government financial assistance
new tax used to pay farmers not to raise certain crops and animals
Saving Homes and Farms
hoped lower production would raise prices
Many people could not understand destroying food while so many were hungry – (farmers plowed under crops to get subsidies)
The TVA
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) – May 1933 helped farmers and created jobs in one of the country’s least developed regions
Reactivating a hydroelectric power facility started during WWI = cheap electric power, flood control, and recreational opportunities to the entire Tennesse River Valley
New Deal Personnel
Frances Perkins – Sec. Of Labor until 1945 first woman in a cabinet post –pressed for laws to help employed and unemployed
Est. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics – min wage, max work week, disabled workers compensation
Two dozen women held key New Deal positions
African Americans held more than one hundred policy-making posts
Mary McLeod – African American woman – highest position of any African American woman – director of the division of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration
Advised FDR on programs that aided African Americans
Formed Federal Council on Negro Affairs – known as black cabinet – met weekly to prioritize
Eleanor Roosevelt
Most important advisor/colleagues – traveled and reported on effect on programs
Wealthy, educated – FDR’s distant cousin – they had 6 children
During WWI volunteered Reshaped position of First Lady –
toured country in place of her husband
Eleanor Roosevelt
Held own press conferences with women correspondences
Newspaper column “My Day” drummed up support for the New Deal
At Southern Conference for Human Welfare - interracial group – refused Jim Crow laws – sat in center aisle between divided races – symbolism of act made huge publicity – embarrassed FDR
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor’s activities troubled some Americans
First Lady should be a gracious hostess many came to admire her
unconventional style (Compare to Hillary Clinton – Is there
room for personal differences in the role of First Lady?)