Alphabet Soup New Deal Programs

TVA

Tennessee Valley Authority

Aimed to modernize and reduce unemployment in the Tennessee River Valley by creating electric infrastructure for the region and jobs

AAA

Agricultural Adjustment Administration

Subsidized artificial scarcity and introduced “Parity” pricing for farms. However, landowners rather than sharecroppers and tenant farmers received federal aid so unemployment increased - US vs. Butler declared the AAA unconstitutional in 1936

CCC

Civilian Conservation Corps

Employed young, unemployed men to work on conservation projects like flood control, reforestation, and park development.

SSA

Social Security Administration

Created a system of social insurance to provide a basic income for retired workers, unemployment insurance, etc.

NRA

National Recovery Administration

Stimulated industrial production and improved competition by drafting corporate codes of conduct and guaranteed labor the right collective bargaining. Also sought to limit production of consumer goods to drive up prices and established minimum wage ($25) and maximum work hours (40)

PWA

Public Works Administration

Created jobs programs through large-scale public works projects like bridges, dams, schools, etc.

FERA

Federal Emergency Relief Administration

Distributed federal funds to states for relief programs such as work relief projects and direct aid

FDIC

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Insured/protected $2,500 (now $250,000) deposits, examined and supervised financial institutions, etc. - created by the Glass-Steagall Banking Reform Act

REA

Rural Electrification Administration

Provided loans to farmer-based rural areas to enable them to build and operate their own electricity programs

EBRA

Emergency Banking Relief Act of 1933

Passed first in the 100 days - gave FDR the power to regulate banking transactions and foreign exchange

FHA

Federal Housing Authority

Provides cheap homes - insures home mortgages, encouraging lenders to make more loans available with easier terms, such as lower down payments and longer repayment periods - created by the National Housing Act

WPA

Works Progress Administration (1935)

Construction of public bridges, buildings, roads - 9-million employed in 8-yr existence - found part-time jobs for needy high school and college students and for actors, muscians, and writers

NYA

National Youth Administration

Provided work, vocational training, and education opportunities to young people aged 16 to 25, aiming to help them find employment and transition to a more stable future

RA

Resettlement Administration

Established in 1935 to address the economic hardships of rural areas and the Dust Bowl. It aimed to relocate struggling farmers, rehabilitate submarginal land, and improve rural living conditions. The RA was later transformed into the Farm Security Administration (FSA) in 1937.

Wagner Act

After NRA was axed, the Wagner Act (aka National Labor Relations Act) of 1935 took its place - established the legal right of most workers (except agricultural and domestic workers) - guaranteed workers the right to organize/join labor unions ad to bargain collectively with their employers

HOLC

Home Owners’ Loan Corporation

Helped homeowners refinance their mortgages and avoid foreclosure during the Great Depression. It refinanced roughly one million mortgages - also developed "residential security maps" that assigned color-coded ratings to neighborhoods based on their perceived risk for mortgage lending

RFC

Reconstruction Finance Corporation

Provided financial aid to businesses and financial institutions through loans, with the expectation that these loans would stimulate economic recovery

NIRA

National Industrial Recovery Act

Created the NRA to establish fair “codes of fair competition” and things to stimulate the economy

CWA

Civil Works Administration

Created in 1933, but lasting only one year, this agency provided construction jobs to more than 4 million people ($15 p/wk) to work on schools, roads, and sewers - this program contributed to the morale and self-esteem of millions of displaced people by providing them with steady employment

FCC

Federal Communications Commission

The FCC was to merge the administrative responsibilities for regulating broadcasting & wire communications into one centralized agency. Today the FCC regulates radio and television broadcasting, interstate telecommunications, and all international communications that originate or terminate in the United States

SEC

Securities Exchange Commission

The SEC was created in 1934 to serve as a federal “watchdog” administrative agency to protect public and private investors from stock market fraud, deception, and insider manipulation on Wall Street - the SEC is still in existence

FSA

Farm Security Administration

The FSA was created in 1937 to aid sharecroppers - the FSA set up temporary housing for “Okies” and “Arkies” who migrated to California in hope of finding work

FLSA

Fair Labor Standard Act

The last major piece of New Deal legislation (1938), this important labor law set minimum wage (25 cents an hour) and maximum hour standards (establishing the 40-hr workweek) - it also severely curbed the use of child labor