New Deal

18th Amendment

Established the prohibition of alcohol in the United States, ratified in 1919.

21st Amendment

Repealed the 18th Amendment, ending the prohibition of alcohol, ratified in 1933.

Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA)

A New Deal agency established to boost agricultural prices by reducing surpluses.

Banking Holiday

A temporary closure of all banks to prevent bank runs and stabilize the financial system during the Great Depression.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

A New Deal program providing employment and vocational training to young men focused on environmental conservation.

Court Packing Plan

A legislative initiative proposed by President Roosevelt to expand the Supreme Court from nine to fifteen justices.

Townsend Plan

A proposal for the federal government to provide monthly pensions to citizens aged 60 and older, put forth by Dr. Francis Townsend.

Emergency Banking Relief Act

Legislation aimed at stabilizing the banking system by inspecting banks and permitting only financially sound ones to reopen.

Father Charles Coughlin

A controversial Catholic priest known for his populist rhetoric and criticism of FDR's New Deal policies during the 1930s.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

A government agency created to provide deposit insurance to protect depositors in commercial banks and savings institutions.

Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA)

A New Deal agency that provided direct relief for the unemployed during the Great Depression.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

A government agency established to improve housing standards and stabilize the mortgage market.

Fireside Chats

Informal radio addresses by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to connect with the public during times of crisis.

First New Deal

A series of economic programs enacted by FDR in response to the Great Depression from 1933 to 1934.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)

The 32nd President of the United States known for leading the nation through the Great Depression and World War II.

Glass-Steagall Act

A 1933 law aimed at separating commercial banking from investment banking to stabilize the financial system.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn lasting from 1929 to the late 1930s, causing mass unemployment and poverty.

Huey Long's Share Our Wealth Society

A political movement proposing wealth redistribution and a guaranteed minimum income during the Great Depression.

National Labor Relations Act/Wagner Act

A 1935 law that protected workers' rights to organize and established the National Labor Relations Board.

National Recovery Administration (NRA)

A New Deal agency that promoted fair competition and established labor rights to stimulate economic recovery.

New Deal

A series of programs and policies implemented by FDR during the 1930s to address the Great Depression.

Public Works Administration (PWA)

A New Deal agency that provided jobs through the construction of large-scale public works projects.

Roosevelt Recession

The economic downturn during 1937-1938 following a brief period of recovery from the Great Depression.

Second New Deal

A series of programs and reforms launched by FDR in 1935 to address ongoing economic struggles.

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

A government agency established to regulate the securities industry and protect investors.

Social Security Act (SSA)

A 1935 act that established old-age benefits, unemployment insurance, and welfare programs for the needy.

Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)

The highest federal court in the U.S. that evaluates the constitutionality of laws.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

A federally owned corporation established to provide navigation, flood control, and economic development.

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

A New Deal agency created to provide jobs during the Great Depression through funding public works projects.

World War II

A global conflict from 1939 to 1945 involving the majority of the world's nations and reshaping international relations.