Roosevelt and the New Deal

Find out how the New Deal tried to promote economic recovery.

Understand what new laws regulated America’s economic system.

Identify the obstacles and criticisms faced by the New Deal.

Objectives

Terms and People

Franklin D. Roosevelt – American President who created the New Deal

fireside chat – informal radio broadcast delivered by President Roosevelt to the American people

Huey Long – Democratic senator from Louisiana

Francis Townsend – doctor whose idea for a system of payments to retirees helped pave the way for the Social Security system

pension – retirement payments

Charles Coughlin – Catholic priest who called on the government to take over the banks

President Hoover’s actions did little to end the poverty and homelessness that gripped the country.

In 1932, Americans had the opportunity to elect a new leader, and they took it.

Essential Questions:

What were the key components (parts) of Roosevelt’s New Deal?

Did the New Deal end the Great Depression?

What were the key components (parts) of Roosevelt’s New Deal?

Did the New Deal end the Great Depression?

In the 1932 election, President Hoover’s opponent in the election was Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt.

• Distant relative of President Theodore Roosevelt

• Paralyzed by polio, he rarely was photographed in his wheelchair.

• He campaigned across country, “proving” that he was healthy enough for the job.

Roosevelt inspired confidence and hope in voters by promising them a “New Deal.

He won the election by a landslide.

Roosevelt and his advisors had three goals:

RECOVERYReturn the U.S. to the way it was before the

Depression.

RELIEF Direct aid to those left jobless or poor by the Depression

REFORMMake changes to prevent future depressions

Roosevelt wasted no time getting to work to fulfilling his promise to the voters.

Roosevelt conferred with the “brain trust,” a group of advisors that included college professors.

On the day after Roosevelt took office, he began to address the banking crisis.

Bank Holiday• Closed the banks for four days

• Helped end a wave of bank failures

EmergencyBanking Relief Act

• Provided more careful regulation of the banks

Roosevelt took further steps to address the economic causes of the depression.

He encouraged industries to:

• Pay a minimum wage

• End child labor

• Keep wages and prices from falling too low

This first attempt to fix the economy

failed.

During the bank holiday, FDR delivered the first of many fireside chats.

When the banks reopened, many customers returned, ready to redeposit their money.

The fireside chats were meant to restore the public’s trust in banks.

The fireside chats attracted more listeners than the most popular radio shows at the time.

Most importantly, Americans grew to trust Roosevelt. He was “one of them.”

Organization Location Projects

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

national parks, forests, and wilderness areas

• Hired workers to plant trees, build reservoirs, and construct parks

Works ProgressAdministration(WPA)

urban areas • Hired workers to repair buildings, pave roads, and build bridges

• Hired artists and writers to enhance public projects

Rural Electrification Administration (REA)

rural areas throughout the United States

• Supply electricity to parts of the country that had no power

Next, Roosevelt turned to job relief, creating programs to put people back to work.

What were the key components (parts) of Roosevelt’s New Deal?

Did the New Deal end the Great Depression?

Workers at the WPA completed projects that benefited communities across the country.

What were the key components (parts) of Roosevelt’s New Deal?

Did the New Deal end the Great Depression?

Yet the Great Depression continued, despite American’s hard work.

What were the key components (parts) of Roosevelt’s New Deal?

Did the New Deal end the Great Depression?

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) built dams along the Tennessee River to control flooding, provide electricity, and increase jobs.

The TVA succeeded in many of its goals. However, it failed to bring prosperity to the region.

What were the key components (parts) of Roosevelt’s New Deal?

Did the New Deal end the Great Depression?

Finally, Roosevelt took steps to reform business practices to prevent future depressions.

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

•“Watchdog” agency to protect investors

•Still in existence today

Federal DepositInsurance Corporation(FDIC)

•Guaranteed individual bank deposits

•Every reputable bank today is covered by the FDIC

Social Security Administration (SSA)

•Provided pensions for retired persons

•Unemployment insurance

•Largest New Deal program still in effect

What were the key components (parts) of Roosevelt’s New Deal?

Did the New Deal end the Great Depression?

In just his first one hundred days in office, FDR had created the framework of the New Deal.

The economy still struggled, yet FDR remained popular.

New Deal programs DID boost morale and self-esteem.

Americans were willing to keep trying and he easily won re-election in 1936.

What were the key components (parts) of Roosevelt’s New Deal?

Did the New Deal end the Great Depression?

Not all Americans, however, were happy with the New Deal.

The Supreme Court declared several New Deal measures to be unconstitutional.

FDR responded with a proposal to name six new justices to the Court.

Roosevelt’s “court-packing” plan was rejected by Congress.

Conservatives thought the New Deal placed too many restrictions on businesses and individuals.

What were the key components (parts) of Roosevelt’s New Deal?

Did the New Deal end the Great Depression?

Huey Long wanted to tax the rich and give their

wealth to the poor.

Liberals thought the New Deal did not do enough to help the poor.

Francis Townsendargued for a system of government pensions

for retirees.

Charles Coughlinurged the government

to take over the banks.

Such critics attracted attention, yet they were unable to damage Roosevelt’s continued popularity.

What were the key components (parts) of Roosevelt’s New Deal?

Did the New Deal end the Great Depression?