FROM THE MOUTH OF ROOSEVELT
We find our population suffering from the old inequalities, little
changed by our past sporadic remedies. In spite of our effort and
in spite of our talk, we have not weeded out the over privileged
and we have not effectively lifted up the underprivileged....We
have...a clear mandate from the people, that Americans must
forswear the conception of the acquisition of wealth which,
through excessive profits, creates undue private power over private
affairs and, to our misfortune, over public affairs as well. In
building toward this end we do not destroy ambition, nor do we
seek to divide our wealth into equal shares on stated occasions.
We continue to recognize the greater ability of some to earn more
than others. But we do assert that the ambition of the individual to
obtain for him and his a proper security, a reasonable leisure, and
a decent living throughout life is an ambition to be preferred to the
appetite for great wealth and great power.
HOW IS THE 2ND NEW DEAL DIFFERENT
FROM THE FIRST NEW DEAL?
Whereas the First New Deal
focused on all three R’s (Relief,
Recovery and Reform), and
provided immediate help
toward the Recovery of the
ailing Depression economy,
The Second New Deal focused
on Reform and Relief,
especially to directly help
minorities, the poor, and the
elderly (those people in
society most vulnerable).
ND
2
HOW IS THE
NEW DEAL THE
SAME AS THE NEW DEAL?
• BOTH Relied on Deficit Spending.
The Federal Deficit ran up from 461
million in 1932 to 4.4 Billion in
1936.
• So What?
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
• August 14, 1935
• Pension System for Retirees – based upon an
automatic collection of taxes from employers and
employees throughout working people’s careers, then
paid monthly to retirees over the age of 65.
• Eventually expanded to include widows, young
children of deceased workers, unemployed, and
people hurt on the Job.
WPA
Works Progress
Administration
A make-work agency.
Created a huge
number of very
diverse jobs.
Included public works
as well as programs
in the arts.
_____
The Works Progress Administration's Federal Art
Project (WPA/FAP)
5,300 Artists were
hired to create art
such as large
murals (2,500 in
all) to decorate
buildings and
downtown areas.
WPA Mural Inside Coit
Tower In San Francisco
Showing Scenes Of The
Gold Rush And Men
Panning For Gold Nuggets
Alfred Crimi, Modern Surgery and
Anesthesia, Harlem Hospital
FEDERAL WRITER’S PROJECT
Hired 6,000(+) writers
to write things like
guide books for every
state in the Union.
More importantly
writers recorded the
Oral histories of
various minority
groups.
Ex. The Slave
Narratives.
WAGNER ACT (AKA: National
Labor Relations Act)
ORGANIZED LABOR
Because the Wagner Act recognized the right of
employees to join unions and gave workers the right to
collectively bargain, there was a spike in union activity
(3 million union members in 1933 to 10 million in
1941), and strikes became a frequent occurrence in the
Depression Decade.
Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) – created
minimum wage (.40/hr), and time and ½ for overtime;
maximum workweek (40 hours); and child labor
restrictions (under 16)
THE SUPREME COURT SHOOTS
DOWN NEW DEAL IDEAS
In 1935 the Supreme
Court killed the National
Recovery Act and a key
piece of legislation from
the Agricultural
Adjustment Act.
Roosevelt was worried that
they would rule more of
the New Deal
Unconstitutional.
COURT-PACKING
Roosevelt’s 1937 plan was to add up to
six new judges to the supreme court
since so many of the judges were
already “elderly and overworked”.
These new judges would of course have
been New Deal supporters
How does this make Roosevelt look?
ADD TO STUDY GUIDE:
7. Women during the New Deal/ Eleanor Roosevelt
8. African- Americans during the New Deal/ New Deal Coalition
9. Native Americans during the New Deal/ the Environment
10. Popular Culture during the 1930’s (Movies, Radio, Literature)
11. Expanding Role of Government and the Presidency during the
New Deal