The Great The Great DepressionDepressionChapter 23 – Section 2Chapter 23 – Section 2

Roosevelt and the New DealRoosevelt and the New Deal

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt was a wealthy New Yorker Franklin D. Roosevelt was a wealthy New Yorker

and a distant relative to Theodore Roosevelt.and a distant relative to Theodore Roosevelt. To the American public he became known as To the American public he became known as

FDR.FDR. He was nominated by Democrats in 1932He was nominated by Democrats in 1932 FDR was elected president and took office in FDR was elected president and took office in

19331933.. Throughout his presidency FDR addressed the Throughout his presidency FDR addressed the

American public through the use of Fireside American public through the use of Fireside Chats, or radio talks.Chats, or radio talks.

FDR also suffered from polio, which crippled his FDR also suffered from polio, which crippled his legs. He was careful not to allow the American legs. He was careful not to allow the American public to see his disability.public to see his disability.

FDRFDR

Roosevelt’s New DealRoosevelt’s New Deal

The New Deal was a political The New Deal was a political program that was put forth by the program that was put forth by the Roosevelt administration.Roosevelt administration.

It had three main goals, the Three It had three main goals, the Three Rs:Rs: Relief Relief for the jobless.for the jobless. Economic Economic RecoveryRecovery.. ReformsReforms to prevent further depressions. to prevent further depressions.

New Deal Measures and New Deal Measures and ProgramsPrograms

Roosevelt started creating government Roosevelt started creating government agencies and programs to alleviate the agencies and programs to alleviate the depression.depression.

FDR’s first action was to declare a national FDR’s first action was to declare a national bank holiday in which all banks would be bank holiday in which all banks would be closed. They would be later reopened and closed. They would be later reopened and people would be encouraged to deposit their people would be encouraged to deposit their savings.savings.

This was coupled with the This was coupled with the Emergency Emergency Banking Relief ActBanking Relief Act which would allow the which would allow the government to regulate banks to prevent government to regulate banks to prevent disasters.disasters.

Agencies ContinuedAgencies Continued The following agencies would become known The following agencies would become known

as the Roosevelt Alphabet Soupas the Roosevelt Alphabet Soup Federal Emergency Relief ActFederal Emergency Relief Act (FERA) – This (FERA) – This

act provided funding to States to reopen relief act provided funding to States to reopen relief agencies.agencies.

Civilian Conservation CorpCivilian Conservation Corp (CCC) – Provided (CCC) – Provided jobs for the unemployed to work in national jobs for the unemployed to work in national forests, Parks and wilderness areas.forests, Parks and wilderness areas.

Works Progress AdministrationWorks Progress Administration (WPA) – (WPA) – Provided jobs repairing government buildings, Provided jobs repairing government buildings, producing artwork and other improvement producing artwork and other improvement projects.projects.

Alphabet Soup (cont.)Alphabet Soup (cont.)

National Recovery Administration National Recovery Administration (NRA) –(NRA) –

- aimed to keep prices stable while - aimed to keep prices stable while boosting employment and buying boosting employment and buying powerpower

Public Works Administration (PWA) –Public Works Administration (PWA) –

- provided jobs by granting money to - provided jobs by granting money to build large public works projectsbuild large public works projects

Tennessee Valley AuthorityTennessee Valley Authority (TVA) – A (TVA) – A series of dams built in the Tennessee area series of dams built in the Tennessee area that provided cheap and affordable that provided cheap and affordable electricity to rural areas.electricity to rural areas.

Truths-in-Securities ActTruths-in-Securities Act – Required – Required corporations and businesses to inform the corporations and businesses to inform the public fully about their stocks.public fully about their stocks.

Federal Deposit Insurance CorporationFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) – Designed to protect bank (FDIC) – Designed to protect bank deposits, insured up to 2,500 dollars.deposits, insured up to 2,500 dollars.

Federal Power CommissionFederal Power Commission (FPC) – (FPC) – Established fairness and safety standards Established fairness and safety standards for industries.for industries.

Obstacles to the New Obstacles to the New DealDeal

In the election of 1936 Roosevelt was re-In the election of 1936 Roosevelt was re-elected, showing the many Americans elected, showing the many Americans favoredfavored the New Deal. the New Deal.

However, the Supreme Court declared the However, the Supreme Court declared the NRA NRA and other measures and other measures unconstitutionalunconstitutional. .

In order to combat this FDR proposed a court In order to combat this FDR proposed a court packing plan.packing plan.

When FDR tried to add justices who would When FDR tried to add justices who would support his programs, his plan to support his programs, his plan to pack pack the the court was defeated by Congress. The public court was defeated by Congress. The public was not willing to allow FDR to alter the 9 was not willing to allow FDR to alter the 9 seat tradition.seat tradition.

Court PackingCourt Packing

Critics of the New DealCritics of the New Deal There were several critics of the New Deal There were several critics of the New Deal Conservatives Argued that the New Deal went too far Conservatives Argued that the New Deal went too far

in regulating business and restricted individual in regulating business and restricted individual freedom.freedom.

The following critics believed FDR did not go far The following critics believed FDR did not go far enoughenough

Huey LongHuey Long – A Democratic Senator that proposed – A Democratic Senator that proposed taxing the wealthy and redistributing the wealth taxing the wealthy and redistributing the wealth amongst the needy.amongst the needy.

Francis TownsendFrancis Townsend – Proposed a program that would – Proposed a program that would eventually lead to the creation of Social Securityeventually lead to the creation of Social Security

Charles CoughlinCharles Coughlin – A Catholic priest that distrusted – A Catholic priest that distrusted FDR’s banking policies and called for direct FDR’s banking policies and called for direct government control of all US banks.government control of all US banks.

Famous QuoteFamous Quote

FDR’s most famous quotes was FDR’s most famous quotes was spoken during his first inaugural spoken during his first inaugural speech.speech.

““the only thing we have to fear is the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat needed efforts to convert retreat into advance” into advance”