Roosevelt and the New Deal
Chapter 25
Section 2
“the only thing we need to fear is
fear itself”
Key ? What were the goals of the New Deal
 The First New Deal – 1933 – 1935 ; focused
on relief, recovery, and reform in America.
 Twentieth Amendment- moved inauguration
from March to Jan. 20; ratified to late for
Roosevelt’s election.
 Brain trust – economists and professors.
 Recommended solutions.
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The Hundred Days
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Session of Congress from March – June (January
–April) – Hundred Days.
Declared bank holiday.
Only banks in good shape would reopen.
“fireside chats”- 1st on March 12th.
Next day people deposited more money than they
withdrew.
Bills sent to Congress; relief to needy; recovery
for agriculture & industry, reforms to economy.
Responses to the New Deal
Some felt New Deal went to far –socialism.
 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) gov. run
enterprises competed with private business.
 Some felt didn’t go far enough – wanted
every family guaranteed a decent income;
every American over 60 to receive a $200
pension.
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Roosevelt’s Second New Deal
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Key ? How did the Social Security Act reflect
Roosevelt’s goals in the Second New Deal? (19351937) pg. 788
Focused on social reforms; Social Security Act –
dedicated largely to unemployment & retirement;
small amount of pay go to Soc.Sec. Fund in the
Treasury. Would receive a monthly payment when
retired.
Also, helped disabled, low-income elderly people
not eligible for Soc.Sec. & low income families
with dependents. Payments to unemployed while
they look for work.
FDR’s Reelection
1936 – won second term.
 Business was against him.
 African-Americans for the first time – did
not vote Republican – the party of Lincoln.
 Working class people formed alliances and
FDR won every state except Maine and
Vermont.
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The New Deal Slows Down
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Key? What lead to the slow down of the Second
New Deal?
Roosevelt and Supreme Ct. struggled; SC did not
support FDR’s programs; felt they gave the federal
government too much power; used judicial review
to strike down laws.
1937 – FDR asked Congress to pass a bill
allowing him to add 6 Justices who shared his
ideas; court-packing; Congress voted it down.
In the end, FDR appointed 8 new judges because
of retirement or death.
A Downward Turn
FDR wanted to reduce deficit spending,
using borrowed money to spend.
 Cut back on the New Deal, but he was
wrong; goods produced by industry fell and
unemployment rose once again.
 So bad was the spiraled downward turn that
the U.S. wouldn’t recover until World War
II in 1941.
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