The New Deal

The main idea behind FDR’s ‘New Deal’ program was to get government to

implement new programs to do three things:

1) Reform-to permanently fix some of the issues that caused the Depression2) Relief-to help relieve the extreme

suffering many Americans were enduring3) Recovery-to help end the economic slowdown and get the economy going

again.

There were literally dozens and dozens of new agencies and programs. In terms of recovery,

the philosophy was based on the ideas of economist John Maynard Keynes. Under

Keynesian economics, if the economy (business and consumers) can’t get the

economy stimulated by spending, then the government must borrow and spend to create jobs (deficit spending). Once Americans get

working again, then their spending will stimulate the economy. This was (and is) a controversial theory, but FDR embraced it wholeheartedly.

After you do the reading for Monday, try to answer these.

You should have an idea of some of the New Deal agencies, what they did, and what their objective

was. Bring your answers with you on Monday. Some may be used more than once, and some

have more than one picture depicting it.

1. Which New Deal program is this?

1.

2.

3. Davidson County Courthouse mural

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6. Old and broke

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