great depression and new deal

US History

What were the causes of the Great Depression?

Some of the big causes of the Great Depression were the stock market crash of 1929, bank failures, reduction in purchasing, drought conditions, and global economic issues

How did President Hoover respond to the Great Depression? How did citizens respond to this?

Hoovers response was minimal due to his belief that government should have little intervention, he encouraged volunteerism and for businesses to continue normal wages. Citizens became frustrated with him.

How were farmers hurt before the Great Depression even began? How did they respond?

Farmers were already struggling before the Great Depression due to overproduction and falling prices. They tried to produce more to pay off debts, but this only drove prices lower. Some farmers became desperate and organized strikes and protests

What were the goals of the New Deal? What were the criticisms of it? Specify both the first and second new deal.

FDRs New Deal aimed to provide relief: immediate action to halt the economy's deterioration, recovery: temporary programs to restart the flow of consumer demand, and reform: permanent programs to avoid another depression and ensure citizens against economic disasters.

What were the outcomes of the New Deal (think Alphabet Soup, impact of women/minorities, changes to the federal government)

Alphabet Soup was all the programs that were made at the time ( it was named that because of all the acronyms)

Some programs provided employment for women while others segregated men and women especially by wage rates

Programs like the CCC helped minorities get more opportunities but other than that they were very excluded from the New Deal and still faced segregation

Dust Bowl

period in the 1930s of severe dust storms that caused damage in the American Prairies

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

dramatically raised taxes on imported goods as a way to protect American businesses and farmers but only made the Great Depression worse

Bonus Army

a group of WWI veterans who marched DC in 1932 to demand payment of their promised bonus for their wartime services (the government refused to do so)

Reconstruction Finance Corporation

 provided finances to banks and industries to stimulate economic activity

Repatriation

the US deported many Mexicans and Mexican-Americans as a way to lessen job competition for Americans

Trickle Down Economics

theory that reducing taxes on the rich and on businesses will promote investment and economic growth ultimately benefitting everyone in society

Fireside Chat

series of radio broadcasts by FDR to speak directly to the American people

National Recovery Act

enforced industry codes that regulated wages, prices, and working conditions. It was later declared unconstitutional by the supreme court

Agricultural Adjustment Act

sought to raise agricultural prices by paying farmers to reduce production

Court Packing

 FDR tried to get more Supreme Court justices so more people would vote towards the New Deal. This ultimately failed

Works Progress Administration

employed millions of Americans in public work projects (i.e. building roads, schools, and other infrastructure)

Wagner Act

protected rights of workers to create unions

Fair Labor Standard Act

established minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards- aimed to protect workers and ensure fair labor practices

Rural Electrification Administration

provided electricity to rural areas previously neglected by electric companies

Social Security Act

social safety net for the elderly, unemployed, and disabled to access benefits while unable to have a steady income

Herbert Hoover

 31st president of the US, was president at the beginning of the Great Depression and most of his policies to combat it were unsuccessful

Charles Coughlin

roman catholic priest who was known for his controversial radio broadcast

FDR

32nd president of the US, best known for the New Deal and his leadership in WWII

Eleanor Roosevelt

FDRs wife, advocate for civil rights, women's rights and social welfare programs

Huey Long

Louisiana Governor and U.S. Senator who proposed the "share our wealth" program aiming to redistribute wealth by capping personal fortunes ensuring income to every American family