The Great Depression and the New Deal

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and terminology related to the Great Depression and the New Deal, including important figures, legislation, and political ideologies.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn that began in the late 1920s and lasted through the 1930s.

New Deal

A series of programs and reforms enacted by Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, aimed at economic recovery.

Wagner Act

Also known as the National Labor Relations Act; it established the legal right of workers to organize and bargain collectively.

Social Security Act

Legislation that created a social safety net for the elderly and unemployed, providing financial assistance.

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

A key New Deal agency that provided jobs for millions through public works projects.

Frances Perkins

The first female Cabinet secretary, who played a vital role in shaping New Deal programs and advocating for labor rights.

Huey Long

A Louisiana politician and critic of FDR, known for his 'Share Our Wealth' program that aimed to redistribute wealth.

Smoot-Hawley Tariff

A 1930 tariff aimed at protecting American industry that resulted in retaliatory tariffs and a decline in international trade.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

A public work relief program that provided jobs for young men on environmental projects during the Great Depression.

National Recovery Administration (NRA)

A New Deal agency that sought to stimulate industrial growth and improve labor conditions.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

A New Deal program focused on economic development and modernization of the Tennessee Valley, including rural electrification.

Benito Mussolini

Italian dictator known for promoting fascism, which emphasized strong centralized control.

FDR’s Fireside Chats

Radio addresses by Franklin D. Roosevelt aimed at reassuring the public during the Great Depression.

Prohibition

A nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages.

Jim Crow laws

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States.

Share Our Wealth program

Huey Long's proposal to distribute wealth among Americans, capping incomes and ensuring basic financial security.

Authoritarianism

A political system characterized by concentrated power and limited political freedoms.

Rural electrification

The process of providing electric power to rural areas, significantly advanced by the TVA.