11/6/12FDR: The Great DepressionElection of 1932Republicans hesitantly re-nominated Herbert HooverDemocrats nominated Franklin Delano Roosevelt with running mate John Nance GarnerBegan 20 year period of Democratic control of the PresidencyNew DealFDR’s program for -Relief-Recovery-ReformIts main objectives were to-End depression-Bring back prosperity-Restore purchasing power of the people-Introduce permanent large-scale reforms in to the structure of American societyHis approach to the New Deal was experimental and practical. “If it works, do it some more. If it doesn’t, try something else.”Brain Trust (others called theirs Kitchen Cabinet): group of experts who provide advice to the President-FDR also had a Black Brain Trust, one of the most well known members being Mary Mcleud BethuneThe Hundred Days: the three months after FDR’s election; a mass of legislation rushed through Congress under circumstances for which there is no parallel in all of American history-Emergency measures were passed to meet the immediate needs of the American people, many of whom were discouraged and destitute.Bank Holiday: FDR declared it between March 5 and March 9; closed all national banks and all banking institutions affiliated with itEmergency Banking Act: Congress passed this on March 9, 1933; called for the examination of banks and their reopening if they were considered soundFederal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA)-Created to assist the states in caring for the unemployed -Authorized to match funds with the state and local governments to help unemployed-Director: Harry HopkinsCivilian Conservation Corps (CCC)-Used in national parks, forests, wilderness areas, etc.-Provided jobs for ~300,000 young men (eventually a similar program for women was established)-They were paid, but part of their money was sent home to familyCivilian Works Administration (CWA)-Created in 1933 for unemployed adults-3 million will eventually be on the payroll of this organization-Reorganized in 1935 as the Works Progress Administration (WPA)-Build over 35,000 schoolhouses, post offices, and other public buildings Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), May 1933-Administrative aspect was authorized to control the production of farmers by paying them to reduce the size of their livestock (because there was too much food)-Declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1936 in U.S. v ButlerPermanent ReformsTennessee Valley Authority Act (TVA), May 1933-Senator George Norris of Nebraska for a long time had sought to place the power resources of the Tennessee River at the disposal of the people-Byproducts of this act: production of nitrogen fertilizer plans for flood control and irrigation, so forth.Social Security Act, August 1935-FDR referred to this act as the cornerstone of his administration-An attempt to give the nation’s workers a greater sense of security-Three major parts-Unemployment compensation-Old age pension-Special categories of the needy, such as welfare1936 ElectionRepublicans nominated Alfred LandonDemocrats re-nominated FDRFDR won with a majority of 10 million votes and carried every state except Maine and VermontFDR’s Second TermCourt Packing Plan-FDR asked for power to appoint a new Justice to the Court when an incumbent Justice refused to retire when he reached the age of 70-Maximum size of the court was to be set at 15-After weeks and weeks of debate, Congress turned down the plan-However, by 1941, he had named 7 of the 9 Justices and turned it towards a liberal slantEven though the New Deal didn’t end until 1945, the reform portion of it came to an end around 1939 – because of WWII.1940 ElectionRepublicans nominated Wendell WilkieDemocrats re-nominated FDR (shattering the two term tradition) with running mate Henry Wallace1944 ElectionRepublicans nominated Thomas DeweyDemocrats re-nominated FDR with running mate Harry Truman FDR Considered to be one of the most popular, most effective PresidentsSignificance of the New DealAlthough liberals and radicals claimed that the New Deal didn’t go far enough or have a clear-cut philosophy and FDR was accused of squandering public funds…-Defenders say it saved the nation from economic collapse-Brought substantial gains to workers, farmers, and consumers-Introduced the concept of federal responsibility for relief to the needy-Introduced reforms such as Social SecurityNew Deal did not end the Great Depression or the economic collapse – World War II
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