Section 11.1

FDR and the First New Deal

Smiling FDR with trademark cigarette holder (and cigarette) in his hand

What traits make a great president in a time of crisis?

• Intelligence• Experience• Expertise• Stamina• Compassion• Charisma• Which did Hoover

lack?• What does this say

about the role of the media?

President Hoover addresses the nation via radio

ObjectivesAt the end of this lesson (two to three

classes), you should be able to:• Describe FDR’s background and traits in a short paragraph (Was he

destined for greatness?)• What was the Hundred Days?• How did FDR deal with the Bank Crisis?• How did FDR give immediate relief to the needy?• How did the New Deal relief efforts help to stimulate the economy and

modernize the nation?• How did the National Recovery Administration (NRA) try to increase

productivity and workers?• How did the AAA try to help farmers and why were the results so

controversial?• How did the TVA try to aid in long-term recovery?• How did FDR try to restore confidence in the stock market and banks?• How did FDR make people feel ‘connected’ to the White House?

Who was FDR?• Sheltered life• Did not seem presidential

– “nice but colorless”• Married to Eleanor• She took him to see poor people

– “I didn’t know people lived like that!” FDR

• Assistant Secretary of Navy (1913-20)

• VP candidate in 1920• Stricken with polio in 1921

– Life-changing– Recovery demonstrated “grit”

• Elected governor of NY in 1928, 1930 (two-year terms)

Young Franklin with his mother

Paralyzed FDR with girl

FDR Background

Montage of FDR photos including one of him swimming (part of polio rehab regimen)

Describe FDR’s Inauguration

• March 4, 1933• 3.5 years into the

Depression• Americans lacked faith in

country, capitalism• Outlined New Deal plan for

economic recovery

• “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”– Compare with

Obama on Economy

Scenes from FDR’s first inaugural

First Inaugural Address

FDR takes the oath of office: “I (insert name of President) do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God.”

100 Days Presentation

FDR signs legislation (part of first New Deal) during his initial three months in office

What was the Hundred Days?• Term to describe first

three (3) months of FDR’s administration; marked by rapid new legislation

• March 9-June 16, 1933

• 15 new laws • FDR was an

experimenter Says “A New Captain at the Wheel” and depicts FDR steering the “ship of state”

How did FDR deal with the Bank Crisis?• 38 state banks had closed • Americans stuffed the

mattresses– Hoarded their money

• declared a ‘bank holiday’ from 3/5-3/9

• ‘sound’ banks reopened • ‘unsound’ opened after

government aid arrived• Reassured public began to

deposit $ back in bank and crisis was over

Top: unclear image shows a stampede; Below, another FDR with cigarette and holder in mouth behind wheel of auto

100 Days

Young-looking FDR in top hat, riding this time

What was the New Deal?• FDR’s plan for economic

reform (recall New Nationalism, New Freedom)

• Legislation addressed the “3 R’s”

• Relief – (for unemployed)

• Recovery – measures to stimulate the

economy

• Reform – laws to help lessen threat of

future economic disaster

Top: FDR signs legislation; below, “alphabet soup agencies as kids dancing around FDR

New Deal

Video capture (black screen) but it summarizes New Deal

How did FDR give immediate relief to the needy?

• Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA)

– gave $500 million directly to relief agencies

• Critics said rapid distribution of funds may hurt in long run

• Harry Hopkins

– Disliked dole (government charity)

• Thought it broke down self esteem

• But said:

– “People don’t eat in the long run—they have to eat every day.”

Top: Harry Hopkins; below, complex cartoon critical of New Deal “pump”

How did the New Deal relief efforts help to stimulate the economy and modernize the

nation?• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

– 100, 000s put to work on environmental projects (state, national parks)

– Got room/board + $30 per month• Public Works Administration

(PWA)– Built schools, dams, sewer

pipes, highways, modernized nation

– stimulated local economies

Top: Cover of a CCC manual; below, CCC boys at work thinning a forest

How did the National Recovery Administration (NRA) try to increase

productivity and workers? • National Industrial Recovery

Act (NIRA)– ‘asked’ business to set

quality standards, maximum work hours, minimum wages

– Allow workers to form unions, collective bargaining

• Publicity campaign – only buy from companies

displaying blue eagle• hurt small companies

Top and below: The NRA Blue Eagle

New Deal ProgramsFDR poses by the fireside with his wife and mother

How did the AAA try to help farmers recover and why were the results so controversial?

• Agricultural Adjustment Administration– subsidized farmers to

reduce production– Help to raise prices

• Controversial– 1933– farmland/newborn

animals were destroyed to meet requirements

Top: farmer receives his AAA check; below, cattle being rounded up

Video capture (first image is of Dust Bowl but the clip is about the farm crisis and FDR’s response)

How did the TVAtry to aid in long-term recovery?

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) – Built dams on Tennessee

River and created electricity– intended to create

ecosystems, lakes, tourism, jobs

• Critics– Farmers who lost land– Businesses saw TVA as

unfair competition Above: Map showing area for Tennessee Valley Authority; below, one of the dams

How did FDR try to restore confidence in the stock market and banks?

• Truth-in-Securities Act – said that companies who deceived

investors about its financial status could be sued

• Glass-Steagall Banking Act– prohibited banks from investing

savings deposits in the unpredictable stock market

• Repealed by Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act

– Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

– insured deposits ($5 thousand)– Now $250 thousand

Top, panic outside a bank; below, calm scene outside a bank

How did FDR make people feel ‘connected’ to the White House?

• Fireside Chats- – FDR’s frequent radio

addresses that outlined his policies and reassured public

• Held weekly press conferences and answered all questions

• Eleanor Roosevelt – Symbol of Roosevelt’s

empathy, energy to the downtrodden

– Received hundreds of thousands of letters each year

Dressed-up Eleanor Roosevelt

FDR and the Media

Video clip: first frame is of Capitol steps being readied for inaugural

Conclusion

• Was the New Deal a liberal or conservative program?

• Liberal in that a lot of new, progressive programs were created that moved the country toward a bigger role for government

• Conservative in that FDR’s goal was to preserve the system and the programs he introduced were much less radical than what was going on in Europe