FDR and the New Deal: Economic Reform and Relief Efforts

1. Section 12.1: The First New Deal (Appleby 422-431) Roosevelt and the New Deal (1933-1941)

2. Agenda for Today • Collect HW • 12.1 • Presentations • Eleanor Roosevelt • Marian Anderson • Homework • Read 12.1 (422-427) and answer the 3 “Reading Check” questions on 423, 424, and 427

3. What traits make a great president in a time of crisis? • Intelligence • Experience • Expertise • Compassion • Charisma • Which did Hoover lack? • What does this say about the role of the media?

4. ObjectivesAt the end of this lesson, you should be able to: • Describe FDR’s background in a short paragraph (Was he destined for greatness?) • What was the Hundred Days? • How did FDR deal with the Bank Crisis? • How did FDR give immediate relief to the needy? • How did the New Deal relief efforts help to stimulate the economy and modernize the nation? • How did the National Recovery Administration (NRA) try to increase productivity and workers? • How did the AAA try to help farmers and why were the results so controversial? • How did the TVA try to aid in long-term recovery? • How did FDR try to restore confidence in the stock market and banks? • How did FDR make people feel ‘connected’ to the White House?

5. Who was FDR? • Sheltered childhood • Did not seem presidential • “nice but colorless” • Eleanor Roosevelt • Wife showed him settlement house & NY slums • “I didn’t know people lived like that!” FDR • VP candidate in 1920 • Stricken with polio in 1921 • Lost ability to walk • Life changing experience • Governor of NY • President from 1933-1945 (longest to ever serve)

6. FDR Background

7. Describe FDR’s Inauguration • March 4, 1933 • 3.5 years into the Depression • Americans lacked faith in country, capitalism • Outlined New Deal plan for economic recovery • “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

8. First Inaugural Address

9. Eleanor Roosevelt Presentation(take notes on back of sheet)

10. Marian Anderson Presentation

11. What was the Hundred Days? • Term to describe 1st 3 months of FDR’s administration marked by rapid new legislation • March 9-June 16, 1933 • 15 new laws • Known as Alphabet Agencies • Over 100 created • Reflects idea that FDR was experimenter

12. How did FDR deal with the Bank Crisis? • 38 state banks had closed • Americans stuffed the mattresses • Hoarded their money • FDR declared a ‘bank holiday’ from 3/5-3/9 • ‘sound’ (healthy) banks reopened • ‘unsound’ (unhealthy) opened after government aid arrived • Reassured public began to deposit $ back in bank and crisis was over

13. 100 Days

14. What was the New Deal? • FDR’s plan for economic reform • Numerous new laws & agencies addressed 3 Rs • Relief • Laws to give immediate help to unemployed • Recovery • Laws to stimulate the economy • Reform • laws to help prevent future economic disaster

15. How did FDR give immediate relief to the needy? • Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) • gave $500 million directly to relief agencies to give to unemployed • Critics said rapid distribution of funds may hurt in long run • Harry Hopkins • Dislike dole (government charity) • Thought it broke down self esteem • But said: • “People don’t eat in the long run—they have to eat every day.”

16. How did the New Deal relief efforts help to stimulate the economy and modernize the nation? • Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) • 100, 000s (18-25 year olds) put to work on environmental projects (state, national parks) • Room/board + $30 per month • Public Works Administration (PWA) • Built schools, dams, sewage, highways, modernized nation • stimulated local economies

17. What was the National Recovery Administration (NRA) & was it successful? • National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) • ‘asked’ business to set prices, quality • set maximum work hours, minimum wages • Allowed workers to form unions • Publicity campaign • Boycott businesses that do not display the Blue Eagle • Effect: • Hurt small companies • Difficult to meet strict standards (wage, prices) • Led to black (Under the table) markets • Declared unconstitutional by Supreme Court

18. New Deal Programs

19. How did the AAA try to help farmers recover and why were the results so controversial? • Agricultural Adjustment Administration • subsidized farmers to reduce production • Use less land, less livestock • Purpose was to raise prices-- • Controversial • Tenant farmers kicked off land • 1933 farmland/newborn animals were destroyed to meet requirements

21. How did the TVA try to aid in long-term recovery? • Appalachia = poorest region of US • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) • Built dams in Appalachian region • Educated farmers on fertilizer, land use • Results: • Generated electricity • Create ecosystems, lakes for tourism • Created jobs • Hoped to modernize Appalachia • Critics • Farmers who lost land • Businesses saw TVA as unfair competition • Government-owned public utilities viewed as socialism

22. Play America, The Story of US Episode from 31:00-35 minutes

23. How did FDR try to restore confidence in the stock market and banks? • Truth-in-Securities Act • said that co.s who deceived investors could be sued • Glass-Steagall Banking Act • Created Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) • insured deposits (savings account) ($5 thousand) • Now $250 thousand • Prohibited banks from investing savings deposits in the unpredictable stock market • Repealed by Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (1999)

24. How did FDR make people feel ‘connected’ to the White House? • Fireside Chats- • FDR’s frequent radio addresses that outlined his policies and reassured public • Held weekly press conferences and answered all questions • Eleanor Roosevelt • Symbol of Roosevelt’s empathy, energy to the downtrodden • Received hundreds of thousands of letters each year

25. FDR and the Media

26. Eleanor Roosevelt Presentation

27. Conclusion • Was the New Deal a liberal or conservative program?