FDR's New Deal: Policies, Agencies, and Impact on American Society

How did FDR restore confidence in the American people?

Through constant reassurance via fireside chats and informal press conferences.

What was the bank holiday?

The closing of all banks for 4 days.

What did the Emergency Banking Act do?

Temporarily closed all U.S. banks to stop panic withdrawals and restore public trust.

What was the purpose of the Economy Act?

To cut federal spending and balance the budget during the Great Depression.

What did the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) do?

Paid farmers to give up a portion of their land and taxed food processing.

What was the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act?

Allowed the government to pay farmers to reduce production to conserve soil.

What was the role of the Farm Security Administration?

Provided loans to help farmers relocate to better lands.

What did the Rural Electrification Administration achieve?

Made electric power available to thousands of farmers through utility cooperatives.

Why did the National Recovery Administration (NRA) fail?

Codes were poorly written, large producers dominated code writing, and industrial production declined.

What were the three areas of success for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)?

Flood control, navigation, and electricity generation.

What was the Glass-Steagall Act?

A law that separated commercial banking from investment banking to stabilize the financial system.

What did the Civil Works Administration (CWA) do?

Put people back to work on temporary projects like construction of roads and schools.

What was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CC)?

Created camps in national parks and forests, segregated by race.

What were criticisms of the New Deal?

It was seen as too conservative, insufficient in aid, and not socialist enough.

What did Dr. Frances E. Townsend propose?

A radical old age pension of $200/month for all citizens 60+ funded by a national sales tax.

What was Father Charles Coughlin's stance on the New Deal?

He was against the New Deal.

What did Senator Huey P. Long want from the New Deal?

He felt it didn't go far enough to help the poor.

How did the Second New Deal shift FDR's emphasis?

Focused on economic stabilization, social security, jobs, and labor rights.

What caused increased labor militancy?

Workers' grievances like low pay, poor conditions, and long hours.

Who was Frances Perkins?

The first woman U.S. cabinet member.

What did the Social Security Act establish?

America's social insurance program providing old age benefits and unemployment insurance.

What is court packing?

The practice of increasing the number of judges on a court.

Why did FDR threaten to pack the courts?

To overcome strong opposition to his New Deal programs.

How did court packing hurt FDR?

It hurt him politically by alienating allies and damaging his reputation.

Why did FDR pull funding from the WPA?

Due to a belief that the economy was recovering and political pressure.

What was the Black Cabinet?

A group of African American intellectuals advocating for black inclusion in relief programs.

How did FDR support black Americans?

By providing significant relief through job programs that employed hundreds of thousands.

How did the position on Native Americans change during the New Deal?

From forced assimilation to cultural preservation and self-governance.

Who was John Collier and why was he important?

A social reformer who championed Native American rights and promoted tribal self-governance.

What impact did Eleanor Roosevelt have in the White House?

Transformed the First Lady role into an activist platform for social change.

Why did the New Deal not support women?

Programs were based on the assumption that men were the primary breadwinners.

What New Deal programs helped the West?

Massive public works like the CCC and WPA building infrastructure.

What New Deal programs helped the South?

TVA, WPA, AAA, PWA.

How did the New Deal help the West after WWI?

By funding infrastructure and creating jobs via agencies like the WPA and CCC.

What ended the Great Depression?

Massive industrial mobilization and job creation spurred by the U.S. entry into World War II.