A New Deal Fights the Depression

Chapter 15, Section 1 Notes

Objectives:

Summarize the initial steps Roosevelt took to reform banking and finance

Identify critics of FDR’s New DealDescribe New Deal work programs

Main Idea and Why It Matters Now

After becoming president, FDR used government programs to combat the Depression.

Americans still benefit from programs that were begun in the New Deal, such as bank and stock market regulations and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Presidential Election of 1932

People were sufferingLack of jobs, food, and hope

Republicans re-nominated HooverLittle chance of winning

Democrats nominated FDRFranklin Delano Roosevelt2 terms as governor of NYReform minded leader

Election of 1932

FDR wins overwhelminglyDemocrats win a 2/3 majority in the

SenateDemocrats win ¾ majority in the House

FDR has to wait four months to take the office of President

Plans for his term

A Cartoon Depicting FDR’s entrance into the Presidency

The New Deal

Brain Trust FDR’s highly skilled advisors

Formulate a set of policies for his administrationThe New Deal

Program designed to alleviate the problems of the Great Depression

3 GoalsRelief for the needyEconomic RecoveryFinancial Reform

The First New Deal

The First 100 DaysPeriod of intense legislative activity

15 pieces of legislationFocus of tomorrow’s lesson

Expanded the federal government’s role in the nation’s economy

Reforms banking and finance – bank holidayRevive public confidence

Help the American people Relief to farmers, jobs to the unemployed

FDR

Born into a wealthy familyStricken with polio – partially paralyzedConfident leaderFirst President to use live radio to address

the American publicFireside Chat

Talked about issues of public concernExplained the New Deal in clear terms

The New Deal Under Attack

FDR used Deficit SpendingSpending more money than the government

receives in revenueKeynesian economics – government spends

money to stimulate economic recoveryMore money in the hands of consumers to fuel

economic growthA necessary evil?The New Deal did not end the depression

The New Deal Under Attack

Liberal critics Did not go far enough to reform the system

Conservative critics Too much direct relief Socialist!

Interfered with free market ideology

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court struck down New Deal programs as unconstitutional Too much power in executive branch Interfered with state-federal roles (federalism)

FDR proposes a court-packing bill Reorganize judiciary and allow FDR to appoint

new justices Storm of protest

FDR gets to appoint new judges anyway due to retirements/resignations

3 Critics

Father Charles Coughlin – Roman Catholic priest with a radio showWanted government controlled banks and a

guaranteed annual incomeDr. Francis Townsend

FDR not doing enough for poor and elderlyPension plan to help the aged

Senator Huey Long of Louisiana “Share-Our-Wealth” programassassinated