Review of the Great Depression and New Deal Policies

Herbert Hoover

President during onset of Depression, believed in rugged individualism/self-reliance, did not think the government should intervene, rely on local charities.

Black Tuesday

October 29, 1929, day the stock market crashed, over-speculation/buying on margin with borrowed money.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

Passed by Hoover, raised tariffs on imports, European countries responded by raising tariffs on US goods, global trade ground to a halt.

Hoovervilles

Shanty towns, nicknamed after President Hoover, popped up as people lost jobs/homes due to Depression.

Dust Bowl

Dust storms across the Great Plains, caused by extended drought/poor agricultural practices, many farmers left for California.

Repatriation

Forcing immigrants to return to their country of origin during the Great Depression, especially Mexicans (Mexican Repatriation Act) and Asians.

Father Charles Coughlin

Catholic priest, radio host, critic of FDR, wanted nationalized banking.

Bonus Army

WWI vets marching on Washington to demand their military bonus early, set up Hoovervilles, Hoover ordered military to force them out, Americans highly critical of government for this move.

Emergency Banking Bill

FDR's first action as President, shut down banks/ propped up failing banks, trying to instill American faith in banks again, first step in stabilizing the economy.

Securities and Exchange Commission

Established to monitor the Stock Market and keep it stable/safe from future crash.

Deficit Spending

Spending more money than you take in, favored by Keynes and FDR to help the economy during Depression.

New Deal

FDR's plan to get America back on track, emphasized Relief/Recovery/Reform, created massive government expansion, government took on new role of helping solve social/economic problems.

Tennessee Valley Authority

Built dams along the Tennessee River, brought electricity/jobs to poor rural area.

Eminent Domain

Says that government can take private property for use if they pay for it.

Roosevelt

President during the 1930's, favored deficit spending with the New Deal, believed in direct relief for suffering

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

FDIC, insures bank deposits, did not exist previously - banks failed

Huey Long

Louisiana Senator, critic of FDR, 'share our wealth' motto, believed Depression caused by unequal distribution of wealth

Hoover Dam

constructed on the Colorado River by Hoover, his only public works project, provides electricity/water, created Lake Mead

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

hired young men to work conservation jobs in national parks, planting trees (reforestation), cleaning up parks, flood control, etc.

Social Security Act

provides money for retirees/disabled

Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)

required farmers destroy crops to drive down supply/not plant as much, trying to raise farm prices, declared unconstitutional

Court Packing

FDR's plan to add justices to Supreme Court, frustrated that New Deal legislation was being declared unconstitutional, not supported by Congress or American people, would have disrupted checks and balances system

Fair Labor Standard Act

set minimum wage/working hours, outlawed child labor

Works Progress Administration

created 8.5 million public works jobs building roads and schools, etc.

Wagner Act

recognized employee rights to join labor unions, re-established union rights to collective bargaining

Mary McLeod Bethune

member of FDR's Black Cabinet, champion of Civil Rights

Black Cabinet

African-American leaders who helped to advise FDR on racial issues in the nation

Francis Perkins

first woman cabinet member, Secretary of Labor, helped to create Social Security

Gone with the Wind

popular movie during the 1930's about the South during and after the Civil War, people went to movies to escape the misery of the Depression

Woodie Guthrie

popular songwriter and singer, from the Great Plains, mostly songs about Dust Bowl/hardships of farmers

Grapes of Wrath

novel by John Steinbeck about a family who left the Great Plains to migrate to CA in search of agricultural work

Dorothea Lange

famous photographer during the Great Depression, took many pictures of families and their struggles

Orson Wells

popular radio personality that acted in War of the Worlds, which convinced American's that aliens were invading from Mars

WWII

outbreak in 1939 ended the Great Depression, manufacturing/jobs boomed in order to supply war needs of Europe

Causes of the Great Depression

overproduction, too much debt/loss of purchasing power, over-speculation/buying-on-margin, collapse of stock market, failure of the banks (not insured and people pulled out their money in a panic), high tariffs resulting in less overseas trade

Role of Government in New Deal

government became bigger and more powerful, opponents feared the size/scope, rise of the new welfare state, people now look to government to fix social/economic problems of people

Legacy of New Deal Legislation

helped lift spirits and get people back to work, many New Deal programs/ideas still remain(SEC/FDIC/TVA/Social Security/minimum wage)