The 2nd New Deal, Minorities, and FDR's Impact

DIRECTIONS: Read, Chapter 23-2, which is about President Roosevelt’s Second New Deal, and then summarize the following important legislative acts. Make sure you include significant details in your summary.


1. What was the Works Progress Administration?


     The Works Progress Administration was one of the government run acts that was designed to help youth, professionals, and other workers. The WPA's main goal was to create as many jobs as possible in as little time as possible. Between 1935-1943, the WPA spend $11 billion to give jobs to more than 8 million workers. These workers build airports throughout the country, constructed or build thousands of miles of road, and put up more than 100,000 buildings across the country. The WPA gave people a sense of hope and purpose. It employed professionals who wrote city guides, painted murals on schools or other public buildings, and people who performed in theaters troupes. 


2. How did the New Deal help labor? (Hint: Wagner Act)


     The New Deal helped with labor by giving millions of Americans immediate jobs which benefited communities and the country as a whole. During the Second New Deal, one of the first acts passed was the Wagner Act or the National Labor Relations Act. This act reestablished the NIRA provision of collective bargaining. The Wagner Act prohibited unfair labor practices such as threatening workers or firing union members. Due to the Wagner Act, the federal government had protection over the rights of workers to join unions, and to engage in collective bargaining with employers.


3. What benefits did the Social Security system provide


     The Social Security system was one of the most important achievements of the second New Deal. The Social Security act had three major parts.
     1. It provided old-age insurance for retirees 65 years or older and their spouses. This helped to make retirement comfortable for millions of people. 
     2. Set up the unemployment compensation system. The system was funded by a federal tax on employers and initial payments ranged from $15 to $18 per week.
     3. The Social Security system provided aid to families with dependent children and the disabled. 


Read pages 710 to 713 in Chapter 23-3 (The New Deal Affects Many Groups) and answer the following questions:


4. Why was the “Black Cabinet” important to the Roosevelt administration?
   
     The "Black Cabinet" was organized by Mary McLeod Bethune. The Black Cabinet was made of up influential African Americans and were there to advice the Roosevelt Administration on racial issues. The black cabinet was important to the Roosevelt administration because it gave African-Americans a voice in the white house.
   


5. Evaluate the actions and policies of the Roosevelt administration on civil rights.

     Roosevelt was never committed to full civil rights for African Americans because of his fear of upsetting white Democratic voters in the South. Roosevelt refused to approve a federal anti-lynching law and to end the poll tax which were two key goals of the civil rights movement. A number of New Deal agencies such as the NRA, CCC, and the TVA discriminated against African Americans resulting in lower wages for them. African-Americans organized the Southern Tenant Farmers Union in 1934, which aimed to protect the rights of tenant farmers both white & black. Overall, most African-Americas supported Roosevelt for they saw him as the best hope for their future.

6. What changes occurred for Native Americans as a result of the New Deal?

     The Native Americans received strong government support under the New Deal. In 1924, Native Americans received full citizenship by law. Appointed by Roosevelt, John Collier helped create the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. This act moved away from assimilation of the Native Americans and towards Native American autonomy. This act also helped to restore reservation land to tribal ownership. Economically, Native American land would belong entirely to the tribe. Culturally, children could attend school on the reservations. Politically, tribes were given the right to govern their own reservations.


7. Why was the Wagner Act significant?


     The Wagner Act was significant because it ensure the federal governments protection over the rights of workers. Workers were able to join unions and engage in collective bargaining with employers. They viewed Roosevelt as a "friend of labor" and union workers pledged their vote for him. Between 1933 and 1941, union membership increase from 3 million to over 10 million. They enjoyed better working conditions and increased bargaining power.


DIRECTIONS: Read, Chapter 23-5, which is about the impact of New Deal reforms, and take notes about the lasting effects of those reform on American society.


 8a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for LABOR? 8b. And, what were the lasting effects of these LABOR laws and agencies on American Government and Life?


     The New Deal Laws and Agencies helped to create more jobs for Americans and improve American life. The lasting effect of these labor laws was mainly on the protection of workers rights. rights. New Deal legislation, such as the Wagner Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act, set standards for wages and hours, banned child labor, and ensure workers rights to join unions and bargain collectively. The National Labor Relations Board, created under the Wagner Act, continues even today to act as a mediator in labor disputes among employers and unions.


9a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for AGRICULTURE AND RURAL LIFE? 9b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?


     New Deal policies had a great impact on agriculture and rural life. Government programs, such as rural electrification, helped improve conditions in rural areas. To control surpluses, New Deal farm legislation's set quotas on the production of crops such as wheat. Passed in 1938, the Adjustment Act, gave loans to farmers by the Commodity Credit Corporation. The value of the loans were determined by the amount of a farmer's surplus crops, this intended to keep farmers' income steady. The establishment of agriculture price supports set a precedent of federal aid to farmers that has continued into the 2000s.


10a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for BANKING AND FINANCE  10b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?


     New Deal programs established new policies in the area of finance and banking. The SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), was created in 1934 and continues to monitor the stock market and enforce laws regarding the sale of stocks and bonds. The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, shored up the banking system by reassuring individual depositors  that their savings are protected in the event of bank failure. Individual accounts in United States federal banks are ensured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for up to 100,000$. 




11a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for SOCIAL WELFARE  11b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?


       One of the most important accomplishments from the New Deal was the creation of the Social Security System. Other reforms, including the creation of the FDIC, SEC, and Social Security, have helped to stabilize the country;s fiances and economy. In the case of an economic downturn, people's savings are insured, and they can receive unemployment compensation if they lose their jobs. Under Roosevelt, the government created the Social Security System, which would give assistance to needy Americans. The Social Security Act provides an old-age insurance program, an unemployment compensation system, and aid to dependent children and the disabled.


12a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for ENVIRONMENT  12b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?

     Roosevelt was greatly committed to the conservation of the environment and promoted policies designed to protect the nation's natural resources. The CCC planted trees, created hiking trails, and built buildings across the country. The Soil Conservation Service taught farmers how to conserve the soil through contour plowing, terracing, and crop rotation. The Taylor Grazing Act, passed in 1934, helped reduce grazing on public land. Most importantly, the Tennessee Valley Authority, generated electricity and helped prevent floods in the Tennessee Valley region. The government established new wildlife refuges and set aside large wilderness areas through the national park system. 

FDR and the New Deal

1. What plans did Roosevelt make in the four months while he waited to take office?        


    During the four months while FDR waited to take office, he began to formulate new policies which later became known as The New Deal. The policies of the New Deal aimed for three major goals; relief for the needy, economic recovery, and  financial reform.




2. How successful were FDR's fireside chats?       

  FDR's fireside chats were really successful. Roosevelt explained why the nation's welfare depended on the public's support for the government and the banking system. The fireside chats made it feel as if Roosevelt was speaking directly to American citizens. Roosevelt explained that banks would fail when too many people demanded their savings in cash. Over the next few weeks, many Americans began to return their savings back to the banks. 

3. How did New Deal programs affect various regions of the United States?       


     One of the policies of the New Deal Act was the AAA (Agriculture Adjustment Act). This act sought to raise crop prices by lowering production. The government paid cotton growers 200 million dollars to plow 10 million acres of their crops. The government also paid hog farmers to slaughter 6 million pigs which upset the general public who protested against it. The policy however, left more money in farmer's pockets and helped to raise farm prices. Another act was the Tennessee Valley Authority. The TVA renovated 5 existing damns and constructed 20 new ones. This provided flood control, hydroelectric power, and created thousands of jobs for an impoverished region.The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) put young men to work building roads, developing parks, planting trees, and helping in flood-controlled projects.The Public Works Administration provided money to states to create jobs helping to build schools or other community projects. To help these programs, Roosevelt established the Civil Works Administration which provided 4 million immediate jobs during the winter of 1933. As a result, the CWA build 40,000 more schools, paid the salaries of 50,000 school teachers in rural areas, and build more than half a million miles of road.

4. How did liberal and conservative critics differ in their opposition to the New Deal?            

   
     Liberal's argued that the New Deal did not go far enough to help the poor and to reform the nation's economic situation. Conservative's argued that Roosevelt was spending too much money on direct relief to the    poor and was using the policies of the New Deal to control business and socialize the economy. The AAA and the National Industrial Recovery Act angered the conservative critics because they believed it gave the government too much control over industry and agriculture. They believed the New Deal interfered with the workings of a free-market economy. 

5. Do you think Roosevelt was wrong to try to "pack" the Supreme Court with those in favor of the New Deal? Explain your answer.      

     No, I do not believe Roosevelt was wrong to try to "pack" the Supreme Court with those in favor of the New Deal. Many Americans were benefiting from the policies of the New Deal and Roosevelt feared that further court decisions could break down the New Deal. Of course the President would want the majority of the Supreme Court to be in favor of his policies. With the state of the nation improving and the benefits of the New Deal, Roosevelt wasn't wrong in trying to "pack" the Supreme Court with those in its favor. 




6. Of the New Deal programs discussed in this section, which do you consider the most important?

Explain your choice. Think About:
• the type of assistance offered by each program
• the scope of each program
• the impact of each program       


     While all of the policies of the New Deal were important and beneficial, I would consider the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) to be the most important out of the New Deal programs discussed in this section. The CCC provided young men with immediate jobs. The CCC put men aged 18-25 with jobs building roads, developing parks, and planting trees. By the time the CCC ended, almost 3 million men had passed through. The CCC paid a small wage, 30 dollars a month, 25 dollars was automatically sent home to their families. This gave the men a job while sending money home to help their families who were still unemployed. The CCC supplied the men with free food, uniforms, and shelter. Although most of the camps were segregated, the CCC gave jobs to both whites and African-Americans. The CCC provided employment and money which was desperately needed by millions of Americans and had tremendous accomplishments such as the planting of 3 billion trees, the building of 46,000 bridges, and developing 800 state parks.