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21st Amendment
- 1933
- Amendment which ended the Prohibition of alcohol in the US
- repealing the 18th amendment
- made the regulation of alcohol a state issue rather than a federal one
- under President FDR
American Liberty League
- Sought to combat what it saw as excessive government intervention by the New Deal
- it opposed the New Deal
- it focused on advocacy for limited government, opposition to labor rights, and support for free enterprise
- argued that the New Deal was an overreach of federal power and a threat to the Constitution
Bank Faliures
- 1929-1930s
- banks closed at alarming rates due to financial mismanagement, economic contraction, and the inability to recover loans issued during the booming 1920s
- Fearful of losing their savings, depositors rushed to withdraw funds, worsening the financial instability of banks.
- The causes of bank failures were the economic crash of 1929 which led to widespread loan defaults, poor regulatory oversight which allowed banks to engage in risky practices, and a lack of depositor insurance which heightened to crisis during bank runs.
Bank Holiday
- 1933
- a nationwide shutdown of all banks declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 6, 1933, shortly after his inauguration.
- The Emergency Banking Relief Act was passed during the Bank Holiday and allowed the government to inspect banks' financial health and reopen only those deemed solvent.
Black Cabinet
- During FDR's presidency, coinciding with the implementation of New Deal policies
- an informal advisory group that provided insights and recommendations to ensure New Deal programs addressed the needs of African Americans.
- They worked to combat racial discrimination and advocated for civil rights, employment, opportunities, and access to relief programs.
Bonus Army
- marched on Washington DC in the spring and summer of 1932, demanding the immediate payment of a promised bonus for their wartime service.
- This bonus, stipulated in the World War Adjusted Compensation Act of 1924, was scheduled to be paid in 1945, but the veterans sought early payment to alleviate their dire financial situations.
Boulder Dam
- a massive concrete arch-gravity dam on the Colorado River, located between Nevada and Arizona.
- It was one of the largest infrastructure projects of its time and represented a monumental engineering achievement.
Court Packing Scheme
- FDR's Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, which proposed adding up to six new justices to the US Supreme Court. FDR's goal was to shift the Court's ideological balance in favor of his New Deal Programs, which aimed to combat the Great Depression.
- Several New Deal programs had been struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional, so FDR argued that the Court's opposition hindered efforts to address the economic crisis and unemployment.
- The scheme aimed to make the court more sympathetic to his reforms by allowing him to appoint justices for every sitting justice over 70 who refused to retire.
Dust Bowl
- 1934-1939
- a period of severe dust storms caused by a combination of drought and poor agricultural practices, which stripped the soil of its nutrients and left it vulnerable to wind erosion.
- These storms devastated farmland, leading to widespread crop failures and economic ruin for many farmers.
- Decades of intensive farming and overgrazing had removed native grasses that anchored the soil.
- Combined with a severe drought in the 1930s, this led to massive dust storms and ecological collapse.
Eleanor Roosevelt
- FDR's Wife
- redefined the role of the First Lady.
- advocated for the poor and marginalized, supported civil rights, and served as a bridge between the government and the people
- She traveled across the country to observe the struggles of Americans affected by the Great Depression.
- She also worked to address racial and gender equality.
- her efforts helped shape and promote New Deal programs that aimed to provide relief and reform.
Father Coughlin
- A Roman Catholic priest from Royal Oak, Michigan
- gained fame on the radio as a vocal critic of the economic hardships caused by the Depression and later, as a critic of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies. - he advocated for social justice, the rights of workers, and economic reforms to alleviate suffering.
- He initially supported Roosevelt and the New Deal but turned against it, claiming it did not go far enough to challenge the banking system and big business.
- In 1934, he established the National Union for Social Justice which promoted monetary reforms such as nationalizing banks and inflating the currency.
FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)
- a US government agency created to provide insurance for individual bank deposits and to regulate and stabilize the banking system.
- aimed to restore trust in the banking system by ensuring that individual deposits were safe (initially up to $2,500, later increased over time).
Franklin D. Roosevelt
- 32nd President of the US (1933-1945)
- the architect of the New Deal, a series of programs, public works projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted to help the US recover from the Great Depression.
Great Depression (causes)
a severe economic downturn marked by massive unemployment, bank failures, deflation, and poverty (1929-1941)
- Stock Market Crash of 1929
- Bank Failures (access to credit)
- Overproduction (industrial overcapacity)
- Uneven Distribution of Wealth
- Decline in international trade
- Falling crop prices
Hawley-Smoot Tariff
- raised tariffs on over 20,000 imported goods to historically high levels, with the intent of protecting American farmers and manufacturers from foreign competition.
- Average tariff rates rose to about 40%, one of the highest levels in US history.
- The primary goal was to protect domestic industries and jobs amid declining economic activity but, it was faced by global retaliation, created economic contraction, and caused a decline in exports.
Herbert Hoover
- 31st President of the US (1929-1933)
- often associated with his response - or lack thereof - to the Great Depression
- As the stock market crashed in 1929, and the economy rapidly deteriorated, Hoover's efforts to manage the economic collapse were seen as inadequate by many.
- He believed in limited government intervention in the economy, which led him to advocate for policies that relied more on voluntary cooperation and less on direct government aid.
- He established programs like the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) to support failing businesses, but many of his measures were seen as too little, too late.
Hoovervilles
- makeshift shanty towns constructed from scrap materials like cardboard, tin, and wood.
- mocking reference to President Herbert Hoover, who was blamed by many for the widespread poverty and lack of government response.
- A symbol of public discontent during the Great Depression
Hoover Flags
- Empty pockets were turned inside out, often referred to as __ symbolizing the complete lack of money or resources
- A symbol of public discontent during the Great Depression
Hoover Blankets
- Newspapers used by the homeless to keep warm were derogatorily called __ because the newspapers were seen as a poor substitute for government aid
- A symbol of public discontent during the Great Depression
Huey Long
- Populist politician from Louisiana
- a vocal critic of President FDR's New Deal, which he argued did not go far enough to address wealth inequality
- He introduced his own program, "Share Our Wealth," which aimed to cap personal fortunes and redistribute wealth to ensure a more equitable society. This plan proposed limits on individual wealth and income, with the surplus used to provide a guaranteed income, free education, and pensions.
- He used his power in Louisiana to implement significant public works projects, expand access to education, and improve infrastructure, often bypassing traditional checks and balances.
Immigrants/Depression
- Immigrants were among the most vulnerable to job loss, wage cuts, and discrimination during the economic downturn.
- Many immigrants also faced heightened prejudice and were scapegoated for economic issues, leading to restrictive policies like deportations and reduced aid.
Isolationist Movement
- a political and cultural stance emphasizing the avoidance of foreign entanglements, particularly military interventions.
- It focused on keeping the US out of international alliances and conflicts, opposing military buildup and interventions abroad, and promoting self-reliance and focusing on internal economic recovery during the Great Depression.
Migrant Workers
- Dust Bowl refugees
- Mexican and Mexican-American laborers faced severe discrimination and deportations under repatriation programs
- moved across the country in search of employment, often in agriculture.
- They harvested crops such as cotton, fruits, vegetables, filling seasonal labor demands in states like California.
- They endured low wages, poor living conditions, and limited labor protections, becoming a symbol of poverty and resilience during this era.
National Debt
- the total amount of money the US federal government owed, largely due to borrowing to finance programs and policies.
- During the Great Depression, the national debt increased as the government implemented massive public works programs, social safety nets, and financial reforms under the New Deal to boost employment and economic stability.
New Deal
- a series of programs, public works projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by the US government. - It was aimed at providing relief (direct aid to reduce unemployment and poverty), recovery (economic initiatives to help rebuild the economy), and reform (measures to prevent future economic crises).
- Implemented by President FDR
- Stabilized the US economy during the Great Depression which had caused widespread unemployment, bank failures, and homelessness.
- Marked a shift in the role of the federal government in regulating the economy and providing for citizens' welfare.
- modernized the country's infrastructure and created jobs
- reforms also helped to prevent future economic collapses
NRA (National Recovery Administration)
- 1933
- aimed to stabilize the economy by regulating wages, prices, and working conditions.
- It encouraged businesses to adopt codes of fair competition to prevent cutthroat practices.
- Key initiatives included setting minimum wages and maximum working hours, eliminating child labor, and promoting collective bargaining rights for workers.
Opposition to New Deal
- revolved around excessive government control, economic philosophy, constitutionality, and insufficient action.
- Critics claimed the new Deal was leading the US toward socialism or authoritarianism.
- Conservatives believed in minimal government intervention, arguing the New Deal stifled business innovation and recovery.
- Legal challenges were made, asserting that some programs overstepped federal authority.
- Progressives felt the New Deal didn't do enough to redistribute wealth or address systemic inequality.
Relief
- the direct assistance to reduce the immediate suffering of individuals and families, in this case during the Great Depression and initiated by FDR's New Deal (mostly).
- This included food, jobs, and housing aid.
- Relief efforts were carried out through programs such as FERA which provided funds to states to distribute money, food, and clothing, the CCC which gave young men jobs in environmental conservation projects, and the WPA which created public works projects to employ millions.
RFC (Reconstruction Finance Corporation)
- a government-backed lending institution.
- It provided loans to banks, railroads, mortgage companies, and other businesses to prevent their collapse.
- Under Roosevelt, it was also tasked with funding public works and supporting state relief programs.
SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)
- a federal regulatory agency tasked with protecting investors, maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitating capital formation.
- It enforces securities laws, regulates stock exchanges, and oversees companies' disclosure of financial information to ensure transparency.
Social Security Act
- established a social safety net for Americans through old age pensions for retirees, unemployment insurance for those who lost their jobs, aid to dependent children (later expanded into welfare programs), and assistance for the disabled and impoverished elderly.
- Designed to provide financial assistance to vulnerable groups
- Created long term solutions for economic security
- Laid the foundation for modern welfare programs and fundamentally transforming the relationship between the federal government and the American people
Socialist Party of America (SPA)
- advocated for policies that addressed economic inequality and workers' rights.
- They influenced public discourse and policy by championing ideas such as unemployment insurance, social security, universal healthcare, and labor rights.
- Many of these ideas would later be incorporated into the New Deal Reforms
Trojan Horse
- refers to specific elements of the New Deal that were criticized for overreaching government power or favoritism.
- Critics argued that some programs carried hidden implications, such as undermining free-market capitalism or consolidating too much federal authority.
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
- a federally owned corporation created in 1933 to provide economic development, modernization, and infrastructure improvements in the Tennessee Valley, one of the nation's most impoverished regions at the time.
- Key projects included building hydroelectric dams to provide affordable electricity, controlling flooding, improving navigation on rivers, and boosting agricultural and industrial productivity.
- A series of dams
Wagner Act
- established the right of workers to organize into unions, the right to collective bargaining (workers could negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions), the prohibition of unfair labor practices by employers (such as interfering with union activities or retaliating against workers for union involvement), and the creation of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) which was an independent federal agency to oversee labor disputes, ensure fair elections for union representation, and enforce workers' rights.
Fire Side Chats
- a series of informal radio addresses delivered by President FDR during his presidency, particularly during the Great Depression and later during WWII, designed to explain government policies and reassure the public.
- Topics included the banking crisis, unemployment, New Deal programs, and later, wartime efforts.
Entitlement Programs
- government initiatives guaranteeing certain benefits for individuals who meet eligibility requirements.
- included the Social Security Act (1935), the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) , the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), and the Public Works Administration (PWA)/Works Progress Administration (WPA)
WWII
- a global conflict involving the majority of the world's nations groups into two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Axis Powers.
- It was the deadliest and most widespread war in history, with an estimated 70-85 million fatalities.
- The massive government spending required to support WWII is widely credited with ending the Great Depression. Defense production ramped up after 1939, especially after the US entered the war in 1941, creating millions of jobs and stimulating industries such as steel, automotive, and manufacturing.
- The war accelerated and normalized the idea of a strong federal government managing large-scale economic and social programs.
- The war transformed the US economy, modernizing industry and infrastructure. By the end of the war, the US had transitioned to a powerful global economic leader, reducing the need for many New Deal-style relief programs.
