The Impact of the New DealThe Impact of the New Deal

EscapismEscapism

During Depression, escapist During Depression, escapist entertainment was popular.entertainment was popular.

Birth of Comic BooksBirth of Comic Books

Eleanor RooseveltEleanor Roosevelt

Was the most politically Was the most politically active 1active 1stst lady up to this lady up to this time.time.

Held women-only press Held women-only press conferences.conferences.

Pressured FDR to hire Pressured FDR to hire women for important women for important government positions.government positions.

New Deal WomenNew Deal Women

FDR appointed more FDR appointed more women to govt. women to govt. positions than any positions than any prior President.prior President.

Including the first Including the first women to hold a women to hold a cabinet post--cabinet post--Francis Francis Perkins (Sec. of Perkins (Sec. of Labor).Labor).

Also appointed the first female Also appointed the first female ambassadors, appeals court judges, ambassadors, appeals court judges, director of the mint.director of the mint.

Women, though, still faced discrimination Women, though, still faced discrimination in that many New Deal programs hired in that many New Deal programs hired only a limited number of women and only a limited number of women and usually paid them less than men.usually paid them less than men.

End of ProhibitionEnd of Prohibition

1933—FDR allows for 1933—FDR allows for beer and wine.beer and wine.

““I think this would be a I think this would be a good time for a beer.”good time for a beer.”

2121stst Amendment Amendment repealed 18repealed 18thth and and allowed for all kinds of allowed for all kinds of booze (also 1933).booze (also 1933).

African Americans & The New DealAfrican Americans & The New DealThe New Deals record with African Americans was mixed.The New Deals record with African Americans was mixed.

Eleanor Roosevelt was very committed to helping the cause of Eleanor Roosevelt was very committed to helping the cause of African Americans.African Americans.

FDR did appoint more blacks to govt. positions (usually secondary) FDR did appoint more blacks to govt. positions (usually secondary) than had any previous President.than had any previous President.

The most influential was Mary McLeod Bethune (part of “Black The most influential was Mary McLeod Bethune (part of “Black Cabinet”).Cabinet”).

New Deal programs provided work and relief for many African New Deal programs provided work and relief for many African Americans.Americans.

The African American community responded by generally The African American community responded by generally switching switching their allegiance during this time from the Republican Party to the their allegiance during this time from the Republican Party to the Democrats.Democrats.

New Deals Failures with African New Deals Failures with African Americans Americans

FDR failed to take a stand on Civil Rights issues.FDR failed to take a stand on Civil Rights issues.

Did little to eliminate discrimination in the hiring of Did little to eliminate discrimination in the hiring of Blacks.Blacks.

Did nothing to end segregation in Govt. programs like Did nothing to end segregation in Govt. programs like the CCC or the armed forces.the CCC or the armed forces.

Would not push for a federal anti-lynching law because Would not push for a federal anti-lynching law because he did not want to alienate Southern Democrats.he did not want to alienate Southern Democrats.

FDR generally favored a slow road towards equality.FDR generally favored a slow road towards equality.

New Deal and Native AmericansNew Deal and Native Americans

Native Americans were the poorest people in the Native Americans were the poorest people in the country.country.

Many New Deal programs provided jobs and relief for Many New Deal programs provided jobs and relief for Native Americans.Native Americans.

Most Important things is the Indian Reorganization Act of Most Important things is the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Reverses Dawes Act).1934 (Reverses Dawes Act).

– Prevents US from selling reservation land and gives Native Prevents US from selling reservation land and gives Native Americans rights to form their own governments on reservations.Americans rights to form their own governments on reservations.

New Deal and LaborNew Deal and Labor

Wagner ActWagner Act (1935)— (1935)—guarantees the right guarantees the right of workers to join of workers to join unions and bargain unions and bargain collectively.collectively.

New Deal and LaborNew Deal and Labor

Shift from Craft Unions to industry unions.Shift from Craft Unions to industry unions.

John L. Lewis = Congress of Industrial John L. Lewis = Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) 1936.Organizations (CIO) 1936.

1937—”Sit Sown Strike” of GM in 1937—”Sit Sown Strike” of GM in Michigan.Michigan.

New Deal and the DepressionNew Deal and the Depression

Despite its efforts, the Despite its efforts, the New Deal did not New Deal did not eliminate individual eliminate individual poverty or end the poverty or end the Depression.Depression.

Depression lasted from Depression lasted from 1929-19411929-1941

Depression ended during Depression ended during WWII. WWII.

New Deal’s Political & Economic New Deal’s Political & Economic LegacyLegacy

The New Deal ushered in the idea that the Federal Govt. The New Deal ushered in the idea that the Federal Govt. had a responsibility to provide for the economic welfare had a responsibility to provide for the economic welfare of individuals (modern welfare state).of individuals (modern welfare state).

Also that the Govt. was responsible for the health of the Also that the Govt. was responsible for the health of the economy at large.economy at large.

This was the beginning of modern liberalism.This was the beginning of modern liberalism.

Conservatism = no govt. interference in economy and no Conservatism = no govt. interference in economy and no govt. responsibility for individual economic welfare.govt. responsibility for individual economic welfare.

The “Broker State”—Fed. Govt. is to be arbitrator of The “Broker State”—Fed. Govt. is to be arbitrator of competing interest groups.competing interest groups.

New Deal Legacy ContinuedNew Deal Legacy Continued

Economic issues become more important Economic issues become more important than cultural.than cultural.

Power of federal govt. (and President) Power of federal govt. (and President) goes up--state and local goes down.goes up--state and local goes down.

End of reform, move towards rights based.End of reform, move towards rights based.

Keynesian EconomicsKeynesian Economics

The ideas of British economist The ideas of British economist John John Maynard Keynes.Maynard Keynes.

The govt. could stimulate the economy The govt. could stimulate the economy through spending.through spending.

The emphasis is on consumption. The emphasis is on consumption. (Bottom up)(Bottom up)

Like priming a pump.Like priming a pump.

But usually involves But usually involves deficit spendingdeficit spending — —going into debt.going into debt.

Supply Side EconomicsSupply Side Economics

Keynesian economics goes against the Keynesian economics goes against the conservative economic policy of supply conservative economic policy of supply side (trickle down).side (trickle down).

Supply Side advocates tax breaks for the Supply Side advocates tax breaks for the rich so that they will invest and this will rich so that they will invest and this will help the economy.help the economy.

Top down.Top down.

New Democratic CoalitionNew Democratic Coalition

Farmers in South and WestFarmers in South and West

Urban workersUrban workers

Most non-Protestants.Most non-Protestants.

Blacks and other minorities.Blacks and other minorities.

Reformers and Progressive minded people.Reformers and Progressive minded people.