Great Depression and New Deal

dust bowl

a period during the 1930s when severe drought and poor farming practices caused massive dust storms that devastated the Great Plains. It led to widespread crop failure, economic hardship, and forced many families to migrate west in search of better living conditions.

21st Amendment

ratified in 1933, ended Prohibition by repealing the 18th Amendment. It made alcohol legal again and gave states the power to regulate its sale and distribution.

second new deal

a series of programs and reforms launched by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to address the ongoing effects of the Great Depression. It focused on providing more long-term economic security through initiatives like Social Security, labor protections, and job creation programs.

sit down strike

form of protest in which workers stop working but remain inside the workplace, preventing the company from hiring replacements. It became a powerful labor tactic during the 1930s, especially in the auto industry, to demand better wages and working conditions.

Herbert hoover

31st president of the United States, serving from 1929 to 1933. He is often blamed for not effectively responding to the Great Depression, as many believed his policies failed to provide enough direct relief to struggling Americans.

fdr

32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 to 1945. He led the country through the Great Depression and World War II, creating the New Deal programs to provide relief, recovery, and reform for the nation.

Eleanor Roosevelt

First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 and the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was a strong advocate for civil rights, women’s rights, and social justice, transforming the role of First Lady into one of political and humanitarian leadership.

Douglas MacArthur

was a U.S. Army general who played a major role in the Pacific during World War II. He is known for his leadership in the Philippines, his strategy of “island hopping,” and later for overseeing the occupation and rebuilding of Japan after the war.

Dorothea Lange

was an American photographer best known for her powerful images documenting the struggles of people during the Great Depression. Her work, especially her famous photo Migrant Mother, helped raise awareness about the plight of poor and displaced families.

John Maynard Keynes

was a British economist whose ideas greatly influenced modern economic theory and government policy. He argued that during economic downturns, governments should increase spending to boost demand and help pull the economy out of depression.

critics of the new deal

The New Deal faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. Progressives argued that it did not go far enough in addressing social and economic inequalities, while Republicans criticized it for expanding the size and scope of the federal government and interfering with free markets.

The Wagner Act

passed in 1935, was a key labor law that protected workers’ rights to join unions and bargain collectively with employers. It also created the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to oversee and enforce these rights.

ssa

Social Security Act of 1935, which created a system of old-age benefits, unemployment insurance, and aid for the disabled and poor. It was a key part of FDR’s Second New Deal, aiming to provide economic security for Americans.

tva

Tennessee Valley Authority, was a New Deal program created in 1933 to provide electricity, flood control, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region hit hard by the Great Depression. It also helped modernize the area’s infrastructure and improve quality of life for residents.

fdic

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, was created in 1933 to protect bank depositors by insuring their deposits. It helped restore public confidence in the banking system after widespread bank failures during the Great Depression.

sec

Securities and Exchange Commission, was created in 1934 to regulate the stock market and protect investors from fraud and manipulation. It enforces laws regarding the buying and selling of stocks, bonds, and other securities to ensure transparency and fairness.

wpa

Works Progress Administration, was a New Deal program created in 1935 to provide jobs for millions of unemployed Americans during the Great Depression. It funded public works projects like building roads, schools, and bridges, as well as supporting artists, writers, and musicians

nra

National Recovery Administration, was a New Deal agency established in 1933 to stimulate economic recovery during the Great Depression. It set fair-practice codes for businesses, including minimum wages, maximum working hours, and the right for workers to unionize, though it was later declared unconstitutional in 1935.

great depression affect on farmers

Plummeting crop prices and severe droughts (especially during the Dust Bowl) caused widespread farm foreclosures and forced many to lose their land and livelihoods.

great depression impact on city workers

• Industrial layoffs and business closures left millions unemployed, leading to homelessness, hunger, and reliance on soup kitchens and breadlines.

great depression impact on minority groups

• African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans faced higher unemployment, discrimination in relief programs, and often were the “last hired, first fired.” Many were also targeted for deportation or forced labor.

great depression affect on women

• While women sometimes found new job opportunities, they were often paid less than men and faced social criticism for “taking jobs away” from male breadwinners, though many became the primary providers for their families.

how was the fdr viewed by the public 1932 election

• FDR was seen as a hopeful, confident leader who could fix the Great Depression. He won a landslide victory over Herbert Hoover.

how was the fdr viewed by the public 1936 election

• The public strongly supported FDR and his New Deal programs. He won an even bigger landslide, carrying almost every state.

how was the fdr viewed by the public court packing incedent

• FDR’s plan to add more Supreme Court justices was viewed as a power grab. Many people criticized him, and his reputation took a hit.

how did people get through the great depression

During the Great Depression, people survived by taking any work they could find, relying on family and community support, and growing or bartering for food and goods. They also used inexpensive entertainment like radio and movies to stay hopeful during hard times.

what is the legacy of the new deal

The legacy of the New Deal is that it expanded the federal government’s role in the economy and created programs to provide social and economic security, like Social Security and labor protections. It also set a precedent for government intervention during economic crises and helped shape modern America’s safety net.