AP Chapter 33

FDR

32nd U.S. President, elected in 1932. Architect of the New Deal, he led the country through the Great Depression and WWII. Known for his optimism and bold experimentation

Eleanor Roosevelt

FDR’s wife and the most active First Lady in U.S. history. She championed civil rights, women's issues, and was a key political force in her own right

New Deal

FDR’s sweeping set of programs aimed at relief for the unemployed, recovery of the economy, and reform of the financial system

Brain Trust

A group of progressive intellectuals who advised FDR and helped design New Deal legislation

Election of 1932

FDR defeated Herbert Hoover in a landslide, promising a “New Deal” for the American people

Black Electorate Shift

African Americans, traditionally Republican since Lincoln, began voting Democratic due to New Deal benefits and Eleanor Roosevelt’s advocacy

3 R’s (Relief, Recovery, Relief)

• Relief: Immediate aid to the unemployed and poor

• Recovery: Stimulating economic growth

• Reform: Preventing future depressions through structural changes

Bank Holiday

FDR closed all banks for four days in March 1933 to stop panic withdrawals and restore confidence

Emergency Banking Act - 1933

Allowed only solvent banks to reopen under federal supervision

Fireside chats

FDR’s radio addresses that reassured Americans and explained New Deal policies in plain language

Glass-Steagall Banking Reform Act (FDIC)

Created the FDIC to insure deposits and separated commercial and investment banking

Gold Standard

FDR took the U.S. off the gold standard to allow more flexible monetary policy and promote inflation

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

Employed young men in conservation projects like reforestation, flood control, and park development

Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA)

Provided direct relief to states for unemployment aid and work projects

Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)

Paid farmers to reduce crop production to raise prices; controversial but impactful

Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC)

Helped refinance mortgages to prevent foreclosures; later associated with redlining practices

Civil Works Administration (CWA)

Temporary jobs for millions during the winter of 1933–34, including manual labor and infrastructure

Roosevelt Critics (Coughlin, Townshend)

• Father Charles Coughlin: Radio priest who turned against FDR, promoting anti-Semitic and populist ideas.

• Huey Long: Louisiana senator who proposed the “Share Our Wealth” program; assassinated in 1935.

• Dr. Francis Townsend: Advocated for a pension plan for the elderly; his ideas influenced Social Security.

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Largest New Deal agency; employed millions in public works and arts projects

Francis Perkins

First woman appointed to a U.S. Cabinet position (Secretary of Labor). She helped craft Social Security and labor reforms

Mary McLeod Bethune

African American educator and activist. She advised FDR and led the “Black Cabinet,” advocating for racial equality in New Deal programs

Margaret Mead

Cultural anthropologist whose studies of gender roles and sexuality in non-Western societies influenced American thought during the 1930s and beyond

National Recovery Administration (NRA)

Created to stimulate industrial recovery by setting fair competition codes, minimum wages, and maximum hours. It was declared unconstitutional in 1935.

Public Works Administration (PWA)

Led by Harold Ickes, it funded large-scale public works projects (bridges, schools, dams) to stimulate the economy and create jobs

21st Amendment

Repealed Prohibition in 1933, ending the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act. It was a major victory for personal liberty and economic recovery

Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA)

Paid farmers to reduce crop production to raise prices. This was known as “subsidized scarcity.” It was declared unconstitutional in 1936

Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1936

Replaced the AAA, paying farmers to plant soil-conserving crops like soybeans to prevent erosion and promote sustainability

Second AAA - 1938

Revived the AAA with constitutional backing. It continued subsidies and added crop insurance and conservation incentives

Dust Bowl

Severe drought and poor farming practices led to massive dust storms across the Great Plains in the 1930s. It devastated farms and forced migration

Okies/Arkies

Nicknames for migrants from Oklahoma and Arkansas who fled the Dust Bowl and moved west, especially to California, seeking work and survival

Farm Security Adminstration

Provided loans to small farmers and helped resettle displaced families. Famous for its documentary photography capturing rural poverty

Indian Reorganization Act of 1934

Reversed assimilation policies, restored tribal self-government, and encouraged preservation of Native cultures. Known as the “Indian New Deal.”

Federal Securities Act (FSA)

Required companies to disclose financial information to protect investors and prevent fraud

Security & Exchange Commission (SEC)

Created to regulate the stock market and enforce the Federal Securities Act. It aimed to restore investor confidence

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

A revolutionary New Deal program that built dams, provided electricity, and improved infrastructure in the impoverished Tennessee Valley

Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

Provided mortgage insurance and helped Americans afford homes. It expanded home ownership but also contributed to redlining practices

Social Security Act of 1935

Landmark legislation that created pensions for the elderly, unemployment insurance, and aid for dependent children and disabled individuals

National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act)

Guaranteed workers the right to unionize and bargain collectively. It established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

John L. Lewis

Influential labor leader who led the United Mine Workers and helped form the CIO. He was a key figure in expanding industrial unionism

Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO)

Founded in 1935 to organize unskilled workers in mass-production industries. Later became the Congress of Industrial Organizations

GM Sit-Down Strike

A pivotal labor action where workers occupied GM plants in Flint, Michigan. It led to union recognition and strengthened the UAW

Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

Established minimum wage, maximum hours, and banned child labor. It was a cornerstone of labor reform

Election of 1936

• Alfred Landon: Republican candidate, governor of Kansas. He criticized the New Deal as wasteful and unconstitutional but lacked charisma and broad appeal.

• Party of Lincoln: The Republican Party, traditionally associated with Abraham Lincoln, struggled to connect with working-class voters during the Depression.

• Outcome: FDR won in a landslide, carrying every state except Maine and Vermont. This solidified the New Deal coalition, including labor unions, minorities, and urban voters.

20th Amendment

Shortened the "lame duck" period by moving presidential inauguration from March 4 to January 20 and congressional sessions to January 3.

Supreme Court Packing Scheme

FDR proposed adding up to six new justices to the Supreme Court for every justice over age 70 who didn’t retire. It was meant to secure favorable rulings for New Deal legislation but faced bipartisan backlash and failed

Roosevelt Recession

A sharp economic downturn caused by reduced government spending and tightening of credit. Unemployment rose again, prompting renewed federal intervention

Keynesian Economics

Advocated by British economist John Maynard Keynes, it supported deficit spending during economic downturns to stimulate demand. FDR adopted this approach more fully after the recession

Hatch Act of 1939

Restricted federal employees from engaging in partisan political activities. It aimed to prevent political coercion and preserve a nonpartisan civil service.

New Deal Impact 

Negatives:

• Did not end the Great Depression—WWII did.

• Increased national debt and expanded federal bureaucracy.

• Many programs excluded minorities and women.

• Some initiatives were declared unconstitutional.

• Critics saw it as creeping socialism or excessive executive power.

Positives:

• Restored public confidence in government.

• Created lasting institutions (e.g., Social Security, FDIC).

• Provided jobs and infrastructure.

• Strengthened labor rights and union protections.

• Shifted expectations toward government responsibility in economic welfare.

Schlesinger View

Saw the New Deal as a progressive and democratic revolution that revitalized American liberalism and expanded government’s role to meet modern needs

Degler View

Called it the “Third American Revolution.” Argued it permanently changed Americans’ expectations of government intervention in the economy and social welfare.

Robinson view

Emphasized the continuity of the New Deal with earlier reform movements. He viewed it as evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

1960s scholars (Bernstein) View

Criticized the New Deal as conservative and limited. Argued it preserved capitalism and excluded marginalized groups like African Americans and women

“Constraints” school

Believed FDR was constrained by political realities—Congress, courts, and public opinion—so the New Deal was moderate by necessity, not design.

Leuchtenburg

Described the New Deal as a “halfway revolution.” It was neither radical nor conservative, but a pragmatic response that reflected the needs and desires of the American people