FDR's The New Deal

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president in 1932, following his promise of a "new deal" for Americans to help them after the Great Depression. In his first 100 days of office, he proposed a flood of legislation to rescue banks, industry, and agriculture and provide jobs for the unemployed. Roosevelt's policies for ending the Depression became known as the New Deal.The New Deal had many long-term effects on United States government and society. As a result of the New Deal, the role of the federal government changed, transforming American politics, the economy, and society. The New Deal was about the three R's: Relief, Recovery, and Reform.Roosevelt's New Deal changed the role of the government to a more active participant insolving problems. Roosevelt rallied a frightened nation in which one in four workers was unemployed (“We have nothing to fear, but fear itself”). Reliefmeasures provided direct payment to people for immediate help. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) headed by Harry Hopkins, the WPA was the largest public works program of the New Deal. Between 1935 and 1941, the WPA spent $11 billion giving workers jobs constructing roads, public buildings, and parks. Workers also built or improved bridges and airports. The WPA also supported artists, theater people, musicians, and writers.The highest praised New Deal work relief program was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC offered unemployed men 18-25 years old the chance to work for the forestry service planting trees, fighting forest fires, and building reservoirs. To prevent another Dust Bowl (drought that affected the Great Plains made worse by intense wind storms), the CCC workers planted a line of more than 200 million trees from Texas to North Dakota. The CCC also taught over 40,000 of its workers to read and write and had put 80,000 Native Americans to work.Recovery programs were designed to bring the nation out of the depression over time. The Agricultural Adjustment Act was supported by the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) and helped the nation's farmers. This legislation paid farmers to not raise certain livestock, grow certain crops, or produce dairy products. The reason was that the overabundance of livestock and crops had led to lower prices. By not having too much produced, demand and prices would go up.Reform measures corrected unsound banking and investment practices. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was created to insure bank deposits up to $100,000. This was put in place because during the Depression, people did not think it was safe to keep their money in banks. Creating the FDIC helped the American people to feel confident in the banking system again. The Social Security Act offered safeguards for workers. The major goal of the Social Security Act was to provide security to older Americans and unemployed workers. With the Social Security Act, workers make monthly deposits that they can collect when they retire. It also supplied a temporary source of income to people who become unemployed as they are looking for new jobs.The legacy of the New Deal influenced the public’s belief in the responsibility of government to deliver public services, to intervene in the economy, and to act in ways that promote the general welfare. One of the main issues that the New Deal addressed was - urban crime the unemployment rate air pollution Match the phase of the New Deal with it's purpose. Relief Provides direct payment to people for immediate help. Recovery Long term programs aimed at bringing the country out of the Depression over time. Reform Permanent programs to fix the unsound banking and financial systems. Which New Deal policy continues to have a large impact on the United States economy today by offering retirement insurance, disability and unemployment? Civilian Conservation Corps Agricultural Adjustment Administration Social Security Act Which New Deal Works For You? Read each situation below and choose the best New Deal program that benefits that person. James is 19 years old, healthy, and unemployed. He enjoys working outdoors and want to help send money to his parents. Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) Fred has $5000 in a local bank and worried about another bank failure. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Kelly is 65 years old and about to retire. She's worried she won't have enough money for retirement. Social Security Act (SSA) Carl is a struggling corn farmer. She can't make any money because corn is being overproduced. Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) Ruth is an unemployed musician most government programs cannot employ her. Works Progress Administration (WPA)