FDR and The New Deal

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The “Old Deal”

What?•President Hoover’s reaction to the Great Depression

President Herbert Hoover

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The “Old Deal”

What did he want to do?

•Refused to create government programs until it was too late

•Let the business cycle take care of things

Children in one of the Bonus Army Camps

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The Bonus Army 1932

•25,000 WWI veteransWho?

•Marched to Washington D.C. to get a $ bonus they were supposed to get in 1945

What?

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The Bonus Army 1932

•Called out the troops and dispersed the army What did Hoover do?

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The Election of 1932

•Roosevelt offers a “New Deal” for America

•Roosevelt wins with 60% of the vote

What?

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FDR’s campaign song:

“Happy days are here again,

The skies above are clear again

Let us sing a song of cheer again

Happy days are here again.”

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Roosevelt’s New Deal

What?•Programs meant to help the country by getting the government involved in the economy

1. Relief - help people out in the short term

2. Recovery - get the economy back on its feet

3. Reform - keep this from everyhappening again

Meant to do 3 things

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Bank Holiday - First Step

Why?

•Many banks had failed, wiping out families’ savings

•People lost confidence in the banks

Depositors Congregate Outside Closed Bank

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Next Step - “Alphabet Soup”

•In the first 100 days of his administration Roosevelt passes tons of legislation

Hundred Days

•The agencies he creates (like AAA, CCC, TVA, FERA, FDIC)

Alphabet Soup

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Next Step - “Alphabet Soup”

•Insurance for the $ you put in banks

FDIC - Federal Depositors Insurance Corp.

•Protected people’s savings

Bank Employee Checks Depositor's Account

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His Greatest Mistake

Packing the Supreme Court

What?

Why?

•Increase the # of Supreme Court justices from 9 to 15•Kept declaring his programs unconstitutional (including NRA, AAA, SEC, etc.)

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His Greatest Mistake

Packing the Supreme Court

Results? •Public grew

angry (FDR taking too much power)

•FDR passed much less legislation after this

Supreme Court Exterior

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Other Critics•Demagogues – leaders who manipulate people with half truths.

•Father Charles Coughlin• Radio Priest – radio show reaching

10 million• Originally supported FDR and New

Deal• 1934 - National Union for Social

Justice• Called FDR “Franklin “Double

Crossing” Roosevelt and a “betrayer and liar”

• Coughlins ideas were reckless• 1942 ordered by Catholic Church

to stop broadcasting show.

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More Critics•Huey Long

• US Senator from Louisiana• “Redistribution of Wealth”

• Only could make up to 1 million dollars• The rest would be collected by

government and “redistributed” to give every American family a minimum “household estate” of $5000 dollars and minimum income of $2500 dollars.

• Also called for:• Shorter working hours, more vet benefits,

education payments and pensions for elderly.

•Dr. Francis Townsend• Wanted more done for older Americans in

the New Deal.• Americans specifically 60 and over

(pension plans)

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A Political Partnership

Franklin Roosevelt

Appealing blend of cheerfulness, optimism, and confidence

An effective communicator (ex. fireside chats)

A reform-minded Democrat

Believed the government could solve economic and social problems

Eleanor Roosevelt

“Eyes and ears” of her husband

Directed efforts to solve several major social issues (ex. lynching of African Americans)

Wrote her own newspaper column

Had the trust and affection of many Americans

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Eleanor Roosevelt

The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps! Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States, 1945

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The New Deal - Pros and Cons

Pros•Restored optimism and hope to Americans

Cons•Did not really fix the depression

•Left the nation with much debt

•Provided necessary relief to many

•Left people too dependent on government (?)

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Questions: Why was FDR's administration labeled the "New Deal?"  What were its three goals?

What sort of relationship did President Roosevelt develop with the press and the public?

What role did the radio play in Depression-era America?

What role did Mrs. Roosevelt play in her husband's administration?

Why did FDR engage in a series of "Fireside Chats" with the American people?