The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

The New DealThe New Deal

Federal Emergency Federal Emergency Relief AdministrationRelief Administration

• 1933• Sent millions of

dollars to states to use in direct relief payments and food for the unemployed

• Relief

Civilian Conservation Civilian Conservation Corps  (CCC)Corps  (CCC)

• 1933• Created jobs for

over two million young men in conservation work and parks

• Relief

Agriculture Adjustment Agriculture Adjustment Act  (AAA)Act  (AAA)

• 1933• Paid farmers to

reduce the amount of crops they planted, in order to cut excess production.

• Recovery

Federal Deposit Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Insurance Corporation

(FDIC)(FDIC) • 1933• Protected people’s bank deposits,

thus eliminating the problem of “bank runs” that were a serious problem in the early 1930s.

• Reform

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

• 1933• Set up voluntary

agreements among businesses to cut excess production.  The agreements covered production, prices, wages, and hours of work

• Recovery; Reform

Tennessee Valley Tennessee Valley Authority  (TVA)Authority  (TVA)

• 1933• Built hydroelectric

power plants and flood control dams in seven states in the Tennessee River region.

• Recover; Relief

Securities and Exchange Securities and Exchange Commission  (SEC)Commission  (SEC)

• 1934• Created to

supervise the stock market and protect investors from dishonest practices.

• Reform

Public Works Public Works Administration & the Works Administration & the Works

Progress AdministrationProgress Administration (WPA)(WPA) • 1935

• Created jobs for millions of unemployed people constructing roads, hospitals, post offices, parks, and many other projects.  The WPA also included a program that hired out-of-work artists, photographers, actors, and writers for a wide range of artistic and educational projects.

• Relief; Recovery

National Labor National Labor Relations ActRelations Act

• 1935• Gave labor unions the

right to organize and represent workers in collective bargaining

• Reform

Social Security Social Security ActAct

• 1935• Created a federal

system of old-age pensions and assistance for orphans and the disabled.  It also created an unemployment insurance system.

• Reform; Relief

Fair LaborFair Labor Standards ActStandards Act

• 1938• Set up the first

national minimum wage law and abolished child labor.

• Reform

Critics of the New DealCritics of the New Deal

• Father Charles Coughlin– Detroit Priest who had a

radio show that reached millions of listeners

– criticized FDR for not being harder on big business

– Also attacked bankers, Jews, communists, and labor unions

Critics of the New DealCritics of the New Deal

• Dr. Francis Townsend– Pushed for

programs to help elderly Americans

– Introduced the idea of a pension system for retired Americans

– Influenced the creation of the Social Security Act

Critics of the New DealCritics of the New Deal

• Huey “Kingfish” Long– Louisiana Senator– Wanted FDR to redistribute

wealth from the wealthy to the poor

• Long developed the “Share Our Wealth Plan”

• Heavily tax wealthy Americans and give every American a home and $2,500 a year

• Motto- “Every man a king”– Support for Long began to grow

• Was seen as a threat to FDR• Some people claimed he had

dictator like characteristics – He was assassinated in 1935

Critics of the New DealCritics of the New Deal

• Business Leaders accused FDR of spending too much money and trying to destroy the free enterprise system– Wanted the government to leave

business alone and play a less active role in regulating the economy

FDR and the Supreme FDR and the Supreme CourtCourt

• Many of Roosevelt’s New Deal programs were accused of being unconstitutional

• The Supreme Court ruled that some of these programs were unconstitutional

• FDR proposed increasing the number of justices on the Supreme Court– He would appoint 5

additional justices under this plan

• People claimed FDR was trying to “pack” the court with justices who would support his plans

• FDR’s plan was rejected

The Impact of the New Deal The Impact of the New Deal on the Great Depression on the Great Depression