Great Depression and New Deal

Dust Bowl

A severe drought in the 1930s that destroyed farms on the Great Plains and forced many families to move west to California.

21st Amendment

Ended Prohibition in 1933 by repealing the 18th Amendment and allowing alcohol sales again.

Second New Deal

FDR’s 1935 plan focused on long-term reforms and social welfare programs like Social Security and the WPA.

Sit-down strike

A protest where workers remained in their jobs but refused to work, preventing replacements and forcing negotiations.

Herbert Hoover

President at the start of the Great Depression who believed in limited government aid and was blamed for not doing enough.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)

President from 1933–1945 who launched the New Deal to fight the Depression and restore confidence in the economy.

Eleanor Roosevelt

First Lady and activist who fought for women’s rights, civil rights, and help for the poor.

Douglas MacArthur

Army general who removed the Bonus Army protest in 1932, which hurt Hoover’s reputation.

Dorothea Lange

Photographer who documented the struggles of poor families during the Depression, including the famous “Migrant Mother.”

John Maynard Keynes

British economist who said governments should spend money during recessions to boost demand and recovery.

Critics of the New Deal

(Progressives, Republicans) Progressives thought it didn’t go far enough to help the poor; Republicans said it gave government too much power.

Wagner Act

A 1935 law protecting workers’ rights to form unions and bargain collectively for better pay and conditions.

SSA (Social Security Act)

Created pensions for the elderly, unemployment insurance, and aid for the disabled and needy families.

TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)

Built dams and power plants to provide electricity and jobs in the rural South.

FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

Insured people’s bank deposits to restore trust in the banking system.

SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)

Regulated the stock market and prevented fraud and risky investments.

WPA (Works Progress Administration)

Provided millions of jobs through public works projects like roads, bridges, and arts programs.

NRA (National Recovery Administration)

Set fair wages and prices to stabilize industries; later declared unconstitutional.

Farmers during the Great Depression

Lost farms and income due to falling crop prices and Dust Bowl conditions; many migrated west.

City Workers during the Great Depression

Faced high unemployment and poverty, relying on soup kitchens and public aid.

Minority Groups during the Great Depression

Suffered discrimination and higher unemployment; often the first to lose jobs.

Women during the Great Depression

Worked low-paying jobs to support families but faced pressure to give up work for men.

1932 Election

FDR defeated Hoover in a landslide by promising government action and hope for recovery.

1936 Election

FDR won re-election easily, showing strong public support for the New Deal.

Court Packing Incident

FDR’s failed plan to add Supreme Court justices to protect New Deal laws; seen as overreach.

How people got through the Great Depression

Families grew food, shared resources, relied on community help, and found creative ways to survive.

Legacy of the New Deal

Expanded the federal government’s role, created Social Security, and built long-term public trust in government programs.