Key Topic 4: Roosevelt And The New Deal 1933-41

Front 1

Franklin Delano Roosevelt
FDR

Back 1

Democrat that became president in 1933. He restored confidence and trust in the American people by speaking to them like they were friends in his famous radio FIRESIDE CHATS.
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
"I pledge to you , I pledge to myself a New Deal for the American people."

Front 2

The Hundred Days

Back 2

the phrase used to refer to the first 100 days of Roosevelt's presidency. During this time he and Congress worked together to pass a huge amount of legislation.

Front 3

Alphabet Agencies

Back 3

The term used to describe the many agencies FDR set up under the New Deal and the Second New Deal that aimed to solve the social and economic problems of the 1930's. Called "Alphabet Agencies" to refer to the acronyms that they were referred by. (CCC, TVA, AAA...) ALL AGENCIES WERE GIVEN MONEY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO IN EFFECT THE ECONOMY WAS NOT REALLY RECOVERING - THE AGENCIES WERE SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS

Front 4

Tennessee Valley Authority

Back 4

Set up in 1933 to run land development in the Tennessee Valley. It gave unemployed work building dams and created a water reserve and generated electricity for rural areas.

Front 5

National Recovery Administration

Back 5

Helped working conditions by setting minimum wage, working hours and no child labor. Joining this was voluntary for businesses but if you showed the NRA symbol in your window your business was more popular.

Front 6

Opposition to the New Deal
Republicans

Back 6

Many Republicans thought that it was NOT the government's job to run the economy. Some opposed the growth of state power and they feared it was one step on the road to communism.

Front 7

Opposition to the New Deal
Radicals

Back 7

Some people didn't think FDR went far enough. They wanted nationalization of banks, pensions and unemployment benefits. One outspoken critic was Huey Long who believed that his "Share Our Wealth" plan would enable every American to enjoy a comfortable living.

Front 8

Opposition to the New Deal
General complaints

Back 8

Many people thought the New Deal was way too expensive and wasted money on projects that did not have long term effects or employment.
Some businesses did not like NRA rules because they felt like their businesses were being controlled by government.

Front 9

Second New Deal

Back 9

FDR's second wave of laws that began in 1935. They focused on long term reforms (like giving TRAINING instead of unskilled work) and FDR proposed a social security system that would pay benefits to the unemployed.

Front 10

Supreme Court Packing

Back 10

When the Supreme Court began to overturn several Alphabet Agencies because they were 'unconstitutional', FDR suggested adding 6 more justices to the Supreme Court. His plan failed and he was criticized for suggesting it.

Front 11

World War II

Back 11

Began in Sept. 1939. The USA did not join immediately, but supplied the Allies with weapons, ammunition and food. (Lend - Lease program) This boosted production and when FDR decided to re-arm the USA, industry and employment were boosted. The War helped the USA recover from the Depression.

Front 12

Agricultural Adjustment Act
May 1933

Back 12

Agency bought surplus crops and animals in attempt to raise prices and farm incomes. Then it tackled overproduction by giving farmers subsidies to grow less.

Front 13

Recovery by 1935

Back 13

Banking system was now stable.
Unemployment was falling:
12.8 million in 1933
10.6 million in 1935
(text page 64 to look at percentages)