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Fifth cousin of Theodore
Roosevelt
Married TR’s niece
Eleanor, a tall very
unattractive woman who
had a brilliant mind
FDR was born into
wealth, had graduated
from Harvard, been a
state legislator, Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for
Wilson, candidate for
Vice-President, and
governor of New York.
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The 6’2” tall Roosevelt was stricken with
polio in 1921. This became the making of
the leader Roosevelt. Eleanor became his
legs and conscience.
Unlike TR who was confrontational, FDR was
conciliatory.
As Governor of New York, he spent great
amounts of money to help relieve the
suffering of “the forgotten man”. It would
be better to spend money than lose
humanity.
The wealthy considered Roosevelt a traitor
to his class
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The Republicans re-nominate Hoover, but
they're not enthusiastic about their chances.
Roosevelt wanted to repeal prohibition, a
balanced budget and social and economic
reforms.
Roosevelt’s theme was “Happy Days are
Here Again”
Hoover campaign was “It could have been
worse.”
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Roosevelt won in a landslide.
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March 4, 1933 – Speech broadcast over the
radio
Denounced the money changers who had
brought the calamity
Government must wage war on the Great
Depression
“Let me assert my firm belief that the only
thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Recovery
Relief
Reform
FDR closes the banks 3/06/33
Beer Wine Revenue Act
03/22/33
Unemployment Relief Act
(CCC) 03/31/33
Gold surrender 4/5/33
Abandon gold standard 4/19/33
Federal Emergency Relief Act
05/12/33
Agricultural Adjustment Act
5/12/33
Tennessee Valley Authority Act
Federal Securities Act 05/18/33
Gold Payment Clause Repeal
06/05/33
Home Owners Loan Corporation
6/13/33
NRA and PWA created 6/16/33
Glass-Steagall Reforms create
FDIC 6/16/33
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Short term goals were relief and immediate
recovery within two years
Long term – permanent recovery and reform
of abuses of the economic system
The public loved this even if it didn’t work
because the government was making
movement
Lots of old progressive ideas
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Hopkins , a New Yorker, led the FERA and
later the CWA a temp agency of the
government
Frances Perkins , another New Yorker, first
Female cabinet member – Sec. of Labor.
Involved in labor since the Triangle Shirtwaist
Fire.
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Huey P. Long – progressive governor of
Louisiana who ruled with dictatorial powers.
Later U.S. Senator made pie in the sky
promises. Known as the Kingfish
“Everyman a King” , “Share the Wealth” Take
the money from the wealthy and give each
family $5,000.
Assassinated in Louisiana in 1935
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“Now, ladies and gentlemen, if I may proceed to
give you some other words that I think you can
understand -- I am not going to belabor you by
quoting tonight -- I am going to tell you what the
wise men of all ages and all times, down even to
the present day, have all said: That you must keep
the wealth of the country scattered, and you must
limit the amount that any one man can own. You
cannot let any man own $300,000,000,000 or
$400,000,000,000. If you do, one man can own all
of the wealth that they United States has in it.”
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Catholic priest with
a radio show that
very anti New Deal.
Had 40,000,000
radio fans until his
anti-Semitic and
fascist rhetoric
turned off America.
Very isolationist
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A California doctor
whose savings had
been wiped out.
His plan was for the
government to give
seniors $200 a
month provided that
the money be spent
in the month. He had
over 5,000,000
followers.
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Against the New Deal
Called the NRA – Nuts Running America
The NRA symbol that blue buzzard
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The Federal Housing Administration
Created in 1934 to give small loans to
homeowners to remodel or complete new
homes.
It is still around today
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Unemployment insurance and old age
pensions
1935
Provided federal – state unemployment
insurance
Retired workers would receive regular
payments from Washington
Provisions made for the blind, physically
handicapped and orphans
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Paid by payroll
taxes
By 1939, 45 million
people were eligible
for Social Security
You have to be
employed to be
covered
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The NRA was
declared
unconstitutional by
the Supreme Court
Called the Sick
Chicken ruling
Said Congress
couldn’t delegate
legislative powers
to the executive
branch
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Right for labor to
engage in selforganization
Bargain collectively
Unskilled laborers
organized themselves –
CIO
Bloody strikes with
workers killed by the
police
Fair Labor Standards
Act (Wages and Bills)
minimum wage and 40
hours work week
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Roosevelt renominated
The party’s platform stood squarely on the
New Deal
Republicans nominate Alfred Landon ,
governor of Kansas
Republicans condemned Franklin Deficit
Roosevelt
Accused Roosevelt of making the U.S.
Socialist
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President Roosevelt took oath on Jan 20,
1937 as prescribed by the 20th amendment
Roosevelt felt that his election was a mandate
to do what he wanted
Became impatient with the makeup of the
Supreme Court
Asked for the ability to appoint a judge for
every justice over the age of 70.
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The maximum membership would be 15
justices
Public angered because Roosevelt seemed to
be doing away with checks and balances
Congress rebelled and Roosevelt lost his
party for the first time
Eventually age gave Roosevelt the ability to
appoint 9 justices.
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Still had 15% unemployment
In 1937, the economy took a major swing
down
Roosevelt decide to embrace John Maynard
Keynes economic policy of deficit spending.
A major turning point for the economy
The Legacy of the New
Deal
• The New Deal operated to balance
competing economic interests.
• The New Deal’s mediating role
established the broker state, which
helped work out conflicts among different
interests.
• The New Deal had limited success, but
gave Americans a stronger sense of
security and stability.
The Legacy of the New
Deal
• The New Deal brought a new public attitude regarding
the government.
• The program gave Americans a safety net that
provided safeguards and relief programs to protect
them from economic disaster.
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3.
4.
Was the New Deal a success? Why or why
not?
How radical was the New Deal?
Create an acrostic for New Deal
Create a political cartoon about the legacy
of the New Deal