The New Deal

Alphabet Agencies:

W.P.A.

By Mr RJ Huggins

Adapted by J. Marshall, 2009

Key Quotes: FDR’s Inauguration Speech

Key Quotes: FDR’s Inauguration Speech

This Nation asks for action, and action now. Our

greatest primary task is to put people to work. I shall

ask Congress for broad executive power to wage

was against the emergency.

The New Deal: Alphabet Agencies

The New Deal: Alphabet Agencies

The Alphabet Agencies were set up to help reverse the “Spiral of Depression.”

The main aim was to pump money back into the economy by giving the unemployed jobs.

Not everyone within the Democratic Party agreed exactly how this should be done.

Causes of the DepressionCauses of the Depression

Fewer goods are sold.

Demanddrops.

In order to stay in businesscompanies cut

wages

People lose theirconfidence &

start saving their money

Demanddrops even

further.

Companies are forced to cut costs

by laying people off

Even more peopleLose their confidenceAnd spend less money

People lose their jobs.

The Spiral Of

Depression

Reversing the Spiral of DepressionReversing the Spiral of Depression

Government spending $

Alphabet Agencies

More jobs

More spending

Demand for goods increases

More goods have to be produced

More people withjobs = more pay $

More spending

Demand for goods increases

More goods have to be produced

More jobs

More pay = More taxes

Cycle of

Prosperity!

Democrats called this process

‘Priming the pump’

How do you put the USA back to work?

How do you put the USA back to work?

Vs.

Harry HopkinsHarry HopkinsWork Relief preserves a

man’s morale. It saves his skill. It gives him a

chance to do something socially useful

Work Relief preserves a man’s morale. It saves his

skill. It gives him a chance to do something

socially useful

Set up two key Alphabet Agencies: CWA & WPA which aimed to help the unskilled unemployed.

Criticised for wasting taxpayers money on ‘boondoggles.’

CWA = Civil Works Administration

Built 800,000 km of roads.

Built 40,000 schools Built 500 airports &

rebuilt 500 more. Built 150,000 public

toilets.

Paid people to sweep up leaves in the parks.

Paid unemployed actors to give free shows.

Hired 100 people to scare pigeons away with balloons from public buildings in Washington DC.Boondoggling

Harold IckesHarold Ickes

Set up the PWA which gave jobs to the skilled unemployed.

Was very careful how he spent taxpayers’ money.

‘My PWA will will give work to the unemployed

by creating things of lasting use to the nation.’

‘My PWA will will give work to the unemployed

by creating things of lasting use to the nation.’

PWA = Public Works Administration

PWA = Public Works Administration

Built 70% of USA schools.

Built 35% of USA hospitals.

Built four river dams. Electrified the New

York/Washington railway.

Built 50 military airports.

Built two aircraft carriers.

Built four cruisers & destroyers for the US Navy.

Built a new sewage system in Chicago.

PWA only provided jobs for the skilled unemployed!

But what about the unskilled unemployed?

But what about the unskilled unemployed?

In response to being accused of ‘boondoggling’, when he gave unemployed librarians jobs cataloguing historical documents, Hopkins replied:

‘Hell, they’ve got to eat just like other people.’

‘Hell, they’ve got to eat just like other people.’

In 1934, the CWA was shut down because it was wasting money

What about the unskilled unemployed?What about the unskilled unemployed?

• In 1935, after a terrible winter FDR decided to help the unskilled unemployed by setting up WPA with Harry Hopkins in charge.

• The PWA continued working until 1939.

WPA = Works Progress Administration

Built 11,000 schools. Built 70,000 km of

roads. La Guardia airport in

New York. Employed

photographers to make a record of the Depression.

Employed 12,000 actors to put on plays and concerts to cheer people up!

Employed artists and painters to make paintings for display in schools and public buildings.

Gave work to 2 million people a year.‘Boondoggles?’

waste

Recap: Reversing the Spiral of Depression

Government Spending $

Alphabet Agencies

More jobs

More spending

Demand for goods increases

More goods have to be produced

More people withjobs = more pay $

More spending

Demand for goods increases

More goods have to be produced

More jobs

More pay = More taxes

Cycle of

Prosperity!

Democrats called this process

‘Priming the pump’

Summary

• In order to get a grade ‘C’ upwards in exams, you must learn and use the key words & facts.

• These concepts will be awarded as key ‘knowledge.’

Spiral of Depression Priming the pump Unskilled vs. skilled

workers ‘Boondoggling’ CWA, WPA & PWA Alphabet Agencies

Key Words

Exam Question 1Exam Question 1

• How useful is this source for explaining how the New Deal put America back to work?

Mark SchemeMark Scheme

Level Grade Description

1-2 F/D Simple undeveloped answer lacking a thesis

2-3 D/C Attempts a thesis and uses or combines some information from the sources.

4-5 C/B Clear thesis and uses sources & own relevant knowledge / concepts.

6 A Well-written and balanced answer covering both parts of the question

PWA = Public Works Administration.

‘Alphabet Agency’ designed to reverse the ‘Spiral of Depression’ and kick start demand

Jobs created for skilled construction workers: E.g. Builders & Plumbers deducted from poster

No mention of WPA which was set up to create jobs for the unskilled workers such as actors & photographers.

Photograph taken by a WPA photographer.

For Against

6 = an answer which includes one from each column.

Exam Question 2Exam Question 2

• How successful was the New deal at putting USA back to work?

Use the source and your knowledge to explain your answer.

FDR = Roosevelt taking ‘Action’ to end the Depression.

FDR is Pouring tax payers money to reverse the ‘Spiral of Depression.’ = ‘Pump Priming.’

New Deal wasting money 16 billion spent on ‘boondoggles’ jobs created by alphabet agencies such as CWA & WPA.

Ex.: Scaring pigeons with balloons

For Against

6 = an answer which includes one from each column.

End