Franklin Delano Roosevelt –
the saviour of the depression?
4th March 1933 –Roosevelt was sworn in as the
32nd President of the United States – the only
President ever to be elected for four terms.
He represented hope to a destitute population
who were disillusioned by the Republicans.
Why FDR? 1. He wasn’t Hoover! 2. Restored confidence that there was a solution 3. He
promised large scale government action
“One of these duties of the state (Federal government) is that of caring
for those of its citizens who find themselves victims of such adverse
circumstances as makes them unable to obtain even the necessities of
existence without the aid of others”
This is the complete OPPOSITE of LAISSEZ-FAIRE and
RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM!!!
Main issues of the New Deal
1. How successful was it?
2. Why was there opposition to it?
3. Mistrust over the increasing power of the
Federal government
“….The only thing we have to fear is
fear itself”
“The nation asks for action and
action’s now”
•
•
•
•
FDR promised to:
Stop the Depression
Redistribute the wealth
Recover the economy
His approach was one of
Federal
INTERVENTIONISM and
REGULATION, never seen
before.
He promised a NEW DEAL
The first 100 days
8th March-16th June 1933
The 3 R’s:
• RELIEF
• RECOVERY
• REFORM
The Brain Trust
devised the
changes
Relieve the millions unemployed
Rebuild the economy
Create new laws for a fairer society
FDR’s administration jumped into action and established a
number of new government departments to RELIEVE, RECOVER
and REFORM.
FDR has been criticised for his refusal to meet with Hoover
during the handover between the election in November 1932
and his official entrance into office in March 1933.
By the end of the first 100 days, America was TRANSFORMED
Fireside Chats
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXY7TkrP
PzI
• FDR held a number of fireside chats to the
people.
• He gained respect for his direct and no
nonsense approach. People were reassured by
hearing him in their living room and followed
his advice to reinvest in the banks.
• He was nicknamed the ‘Champ’.
• FDR passed a number of reforms along with
the establishment of new government
departments to administrate relief and
recovery.
1. Actions towards the banks
P64
• What did he do?
• Why did he do it?
• Why was it criticised?
2. Emergency Act
P65
• What did he do?
• Why did he do it?
3. Beer and Wine Revenue Act 22nd
March 1933
Ended Prohibition and made it legal to sell
drinks that had up to 3.2% alcohol.
This allowed the government to increase
revenue from alcohol taxation and people were
happier at this change.
4. ALPHABET AGENCIES
• These new departments were known by their
initials hence the nickname ‘Alphabet
Agencies’
How successful were these agencies?
ALPHABET
(Abbrev.)
CCC
AGENCY
AIM
Civilian
Employ men in
Conservation Corps countryside
conservation
2 examples
How
successful?
(Give a pro and
a con)
•$1/day – lived
in army camps.
•Jobs inc. tree
planting,
strengthening
river banks
Pro – 3m
employed in
temporary
work
Con – White
preferential
treatment and
segregated
camps in South
In your opinion, which was the
best Alphabet Agency?
Do these changes deserve
merit for ending the
Depression?