15.1 Notes: A New Deal Fights the Depression

1. Why did voters turn to Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932 to deal with the Depression?

•         Too many blamed Hoover for the depression
•         Too many saw the increased suffering of the past 3 years as a result of Hoover's program
•         FDR promised action (however vague)
•         FDR was a reform governor of NY
•         FDR was a distant cousin of TR

2. Why was the winter following the election the worst of the Depression?

•         Hoover is a lame duck
•         Refused to work with FDR on programs he didn't believe in

3. Why were the first 100 days of FDR's term so important?

•         Honeymoon period of presidency
•             15+ new laws
•         Stopped bank runs w/ bank holiday (emerg. bank relief act)
•         Told people to remain calm w/ Fireside Chats
•         Protected deposits w/Glass Steagall Act
•             FDIC
•         Protected stock market from bubbles w/ Fed Securities Act
•             Truth about stocks required
•             Securities & Exhcange commission to regulate market
•             Brought jobs w/ Beer & Wine Act
•                 Ended prohibition

4.  How did the first New Deal help farmers?

•         Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) ltd production
•                 prices rose
•                 farmers were paid not to grow crops
•         TN Valley Authority (TVA)
•                 fixed, built dams
•                 created thousands of jobs
•                 supplied cheap electricity to 5 states

5.  How were young men put back to work?

•         Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
•         18-25 yr olds in camps
•         drained swamps, built parks, trails
•         lived in tents, fed, paid

6.  What jobs were provided short term to help the jobless at home?

•             Public Works Admin (PWA)
•                 $$$to states for construction work
•             Civil Works Admin (CWA)
•                 4 mil jobs, wide variety
•                 make work program or boondoggle

7. How did the New Deal try to prevent strikes and wage cuts?

•         National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA)
•                 Rebulated production, prices, wages
•                 books of codes created for each industry

8. How did the New Deal strive to meet peoples bsic needs for food, shelter and clothing?

•         Home Owners Loan Corp (HOLC) to refinance

        Federal Housing Admin (FHA) cheap loans for repairs

•         Federal Emerigency Relief Admin (FERA)
•             $$ to states for direct relief, jobs, clothes, food

9.  What kinds of criticism did the New Deal face?

• Conservatives said it cost too much
• didn't want to give $$ to famres
• Didn't want business regulations (NRA)
• Liberals said it didn't help the poor enough
• Huey Long, socialists: Share the Wealth program
• Bar B Que parable

10.  How did the conservative Supreme Court challenge the New Deal?

•     Found NRA codes exceeded executive power
• Congress can regulate interstate commerce
• Struck down NIRA
• found processing fee on agriculture = tax
• struck down AAA on grounds that states, not fed gov, should regulate agriculture

11.  How did FDR respond to the Court's challenges?

• 6 new justices; one for each over age 70
• to help w/ work load

12.  What was public opinion on this reform bill?

•     Seen as Court Packing
• Cost FDR public support
• Some old Justices retired
• FDR appointees favored New Deal more

13.  What 2 other famouse critics were actively against the New Deal?

• Conservative Father Coughlin
• Radio Priest
• Called it the Jew Deal; supported Hitler in Germany
• Dr. Charles Townsend suggested poor and elderly get pensions of $200 month
• provided they spend it all each month
• would stimulate economy
• idea led to establishing Social Security program