The 2nd New Deal, Minorities, and FDR's Impact

1. What was the Works Progress Administration?
The Works Progress Administration was a program (headed by Harry Hopkins) that the Roosevelt administration and Congress set up, with a goal to quickly create as many jobs as they could for the people. It spent millions to give jobs to millions of workers, who ended up producing thousands of public buildings. It gave hope to people who now had jobs and received paychecks, and employed unskilled and skilled. It even made special efforts towards women, minorities, and young people.

2. How did the New Deal help labor? (Hint: Wagner Act)
The New Deal helped labor by getting the National Labor Relations Act, or the Wagner Act, passed. The Wagner Act protected the rights of workers to unionize and collectively bargain with employers, it prohibited unfair labor practices by employers, and it set up the National Labor Relations Board which listened to workers' testimonies of unfair practices and even held elections if unions wanted representation. Another act was passed called the Fair Labor Standards Act, which set maximum and minimum wages, set rules for the employment of workers under the age of 16, as well as prohibited hazardous work for workers under 18.

3. What benefits did the Social Security system provide?
 The benefits that the Social Security system provided were: old-age insurance for retirees 65 or older and their spouses, an unemployment compensation system, and aid to families with dependent children and the disabled.

4. Why was the “Black Cabinet” important to the Roosevelt administration?
The "Black Cabinet" was important to the Roosevelt administration because it was the first time that African Americans had that much say in the White House, and the "Black Cabinet" was able to advise the Roosevelt administration on racial matters.

5. Evaluate the actions and policies of the Roosevelt administration on civil rights.
Roosevelt never fully supported civil rights, the main reason being that he didn't want to lose the support of his southern supporters. Therefore he didn't approve two main goals of the civil rights movement: a federal anti-lynching law and and end to the poll tax. Also, many New Deal programs discriminated against African Americans, and gave them lower wages.

6. What changes occurred for Native Americans as a result of the New Deal?
As a result of the New Deal, Native Americans were given more freedom to govern themselves. In addition, their lands would given to a whole tribe, instead of being given to the government who previously did whatever it wanted with them. Native American children could go to boarding schools on their reservations, and the number of boarding schools in general was reduced. Lastly, Native American tribes were given the right to elect tribe councils to govern their reservations.

7. Why was the Wagner Act significant?
The Wagner Act was significant because it made working conditions better and increased bargaining power. It was for these reasons that Roosevelt gained the support of labor unions and workers.

8a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for LABOR? 8b. And, what were the lasting effects of these LABOR laws and agencies on American Government and Life?
a.) The New Deal laws and agencies created for LABOR were: the National Labor Relations Board (NLRC), the Wagner Act, and the Fair Labor Act.
b.)The lasting of effects of these labor laws and agencies on American government and life were: The NLRC still handles labor disputes between workers and employers today, the Wagner Act (which created the NLRC) and the Fair Labor Act "set standards for wages and hours, banned child labor, and ensured the right of workers to organize and to bargain collectively with employers." Wages and hours still have set standards, child labor is still banned, and workers continue to have these rights today.

9a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for AGRICULTURE AND RURAL LIFE? 9b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?
a.) The New Deal laws and agencies created for AGRICULTURE AND RURAL LIFE were: the first and second Agricultural Adjustment Acts and the Commodity Credit Corporation. The government program that worked with rural electrification also was a result of the New Deal.
b.) The lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American government and life were: the Agriculture Adjustment Acts allowed it so that the Commodity Credit Corporation loaned farmers money. To do so, a set price would have to be established for individual farmers based on their crop surplus and parity price. This financial aid for farmers continued into the 2000s. Rural electrification helped to modernize rural parts of America that were previously without electricity; these rural areas have remained modernized in this way since then.

10a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for BANKING AND FINANCE?  10b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?
a.) The New Deal laws and agencies created for BANKING AND FINANCE were: the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Glass-Steagall Act, and Social Security.
b.)The lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American government and life were: the SEC still monitors the stock market and enforces laws concerning the sale of stocks and bonds. The Glass-Steagall Act created the FDIC, which is still providing financial protection and insurance (of up to $100,000 in present day) for individual accounts. Social Security helped out people of certain circumstances financially (this will be expanded upon more in the response to the next question), and is still largely important and really helpful today.

11a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for SOCIAL WELFARE?  11b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?
a.) The New Deal laws and agencies for SOCIAL WELFARE were: Social Security.
b.) The lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American government and life were: Social Security  has hugely impacted the lives of many Americans since it was founded, as it provided (and still provides) an insurance program for people of old age, people who are unemployed, people who are disabled, and families that have dependent children.

12a. What were the New Deal Laws and Agencies created for ENVIRONMENT?  12b. And, what were the lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American Government and Life?
a.) The New Deal laws and agencies created for ENVIRONMENT were: the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Soil Conservation Service, the Taylor Grazing Act, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
b.) The lasting effects of these laws and agencies on American government and life were: CCC built many public buildings that are still standing and used today, and they planted thousands of trees to help prevent another Dust Bowl in the future. They also made hiking trails and fire lookout towers. The Soil Conservation Service taught farmers how to conserve soil, and those techniques are still used today. The Taylor Grazing Act reduced grazing on public lands in order to avoid erosion and dust storms. The TVA used water power to generate electricity in the Tennessee Valley and to avoid floods in the future. What was done in the Tennessee Valley by the TVA still remains effective and in use today.

FDR and the New Deal

1. What plans did Roosevelt make in the four months while he waited to take office?        
While FDR waited to take office for four months, he worked with his so called "Brain Trust" and formed various new policies for a program that was to be called the New Deal, which was meant to remedy the problems created by the Great Depression.  



2. How successful were FDR's fireside chats?       
FDR's fireside chats were quite successful, and a clever way to encourage people in ways that would stimulate the economy. Because Roosevelt would explain what he was planning to do and the problems he was trying to fix in a way everyone could understand, many helped him out. For example, when he explained the situation with banking, people went out and put their money back into banks, now understanding that that would help the situation. 



3. How did New Deal programs affect various regions of the United States?       
New Deal programs affected various regions of the United States because some of the programs applied to people in rural areas, such as farmers, and others applied more to people in urban areas. Programs like NIRA and PWA applied to urban citizens, whereas the AAA directly applied to farmers and agriculture. The CWA planted trees so that another dust bowl might be avoided, which would benefit all the regions that were previously affected by it.


4. How did liberal and conservative critics differ in their opposition to the New Deal?         
Liberal critics felt that the New Deal could have done more to help the poor, and get involved in the economy system. On the other hand, conservative critics felt that the New Deal was too involved in individuals' rights and that it was spending too much on direct relief, they also felt that some of the New Deal policies were being used "to control business and socialize the economy." Conservatives felt some acts gave the government too much control. 

5. Do you think Roosevelt was wrong to try to "pack" the Supreme Court with those in favor of the New Deal? Explain your answer.      

Well, I think the New Deal was a smart plan that ultimately benefited the country, therefore I see why Roosevelt, being the president, thought it best to ensure that this program would continue. I think it may have been a better idea on his part to have gone about it better, by asking to reassign 2 or 3 members at first, instead of six. That way it would seem less obvious that he was trying to "pack" the supreme court with those in favor of the New Deal, and thus there would've been less outrage by the people in opposition to the New Deal at his proposition. 



6. Of the New Deal programs discussed in this section, which do you consider the most important?
 Explain your choice. Think About:
• the type of assistance offered by each program
• the scope of each program
• the impact of each program        

Of the New Deal programs discussed in this section, I consider the 1934 National Housing Act  the most important. This is because it created the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The FHA provided loans for house repairs and mortgages, and it still is active today. Also, because of the huge amount of people that were desperately in need of home repairs or help to remain out of foreclosure during the Depression, this program from New Deal seemed to not only benefit a huge scope of people, but considering it has lasted up to today, also had the biggest impact. 

Hardship and Suffering During the Depression

1. What were some of Hoover's key convictions about government?        
Hoover believed in a small, limited government that had little interference with the individual. He supported the idea of "rugged individualism," thus he opposed direct relief and other forms of federal welfare. His solution to the problem of the needy was that individuals, charities, and local organizations should help them, since he didn't believe the government directly should. He also believed that one of the main functions of the government was to foster cooperation between competing groups and interests in society, but not control it. 


2. What did President Herbert Hoover say and do in response to the Great Depression?       
Hoover didn't take much action in response to the Great Depression until the end of his presidency. His initial steps were cautious: he called together key leaders in business, banking, and labor and asked them to look for solutions, and he also created a special organization to help private charities come up with contributions for those in poverty. These actions didn't have much effect. Although, he did propose the construction of the Boulder Dam (Hoover Dam), and that dam created benefits for surrounding states. Eventually, Hoover started to do more in response to the Depression. He support the creation of the Federal Farm Board, encouraged banks to establish the National Credit Corporation, and signed the Federal Home Loan Bank Act. He continued to appeal to Congress to pass various things that he thought would improve the economy, such as banking reform, provided mortgage relief, and more federal money in business investment. The biggest thing Hoover did in response to the Great Depression though, was the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, which was passed by Congress in 1932. The RFC could put a maximum of $2 billion into large businesses. A quote from Hoover, "Every time we find solutions outside of government, we have not only strengthened character, but we have preserved out sense of real government," shows how Hoover's belief in a limited government prevented him from intervening to much with the Great Depression. 


3. Why do you think people blamed Hoover for the nation's difficulties?       
People blamed Hoover for the nation's difficulties because he wouldn't provide federal welfare and direct relief, therefore people in poverty who were desperately in need of such things felt the nation's difficulties were indirect consequences of Hoover's government philosophies and hesitance to take the drastic action that was needed in response to the Great Depression. 

4. How did Hoover's belief in "rugged individualism" shape his policies during the Great Depression.

Think About:

• what his belief implies about his view of people

• how that translates into the role of government

• Hoover’s policies (How effective were they?)       
Hoover's belief in "rugged individualism" shaped his policies during the Great Depression by causing him to not want to issue any federal welfare towards individuals during the Depression. He believed that people who got by on their own would have higher self-respect and stronger "moral fiber," therefore he was very hesitant to have the government intervene in individuals' lives; the majority of his actions in response to the Depression involved businesses and the creation of organizations, not aid towards individuals. So, due to Hoover's belief in "rugged individualism," and thus his subtle, for lack of a better word, actions during the Great Depression, his policies weren't very effective at all, and the nation noticed. 

5. What did the Bonus Army want and how did Hoover respond?      
The Bonus Army wanted the financial bonus and life insurance that was guaranteed to be issued to them in 1945, because their fighting in World War 1 needed compensation. So, the Bonus Army was gathered in D.C. to show support for the Patman Bill that was under consideration in Congress, which said that they (WWI veterans) should be paid that bonus immediately. However, Hoover took the Bonus Army for communists and criminals and opposed the legislation. When the bill was voted down by Senate, Hoover order the Bonus Army to leave, but not all left. So Hoover issued an 1000 man force to make the remaining veterans leave. These soldiers threw tear gas bombs, prodded people with bayonets, and set fire to buildings in order to uproot the Bonus Army. 


6. When Franklin Delano Roosevelt heard about the attack on the Bonus Army, why was he so certain that he would defeat Hoover?

Think About:

• the American public’s impression of Hoover (See your answer to No. 3)

• Hoover’s actions to alleviate the Great Depression (see your answer to No. 4)

• how people judged Hoover after the attack.       
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was so certain that he would defeat Hoover when he heard about the attack on the Bonus Army because the public already had a low opinion of Hoover and blamed the nation's problems on him, so when Hoover issued an attack against U.S. veterans, Roosevelt knew that that would not settle well with the public at all, which it didn't. People were shocked that Hoover could treat WWI veterans the way he did.  Also, considering Hoover's actions to alleviate the Great Depression weren't very helpful or effective, Roosevelt had good reason to believe that the public was anxious for a new, more ambitious, leader. 

Hardship and Suffering During the Depression

As you read about how people coped with hard times, use the headings below to summarize the Great Depression’s effects on various aspects of American life.

Employment:
People all over the country were losing their jobs.

Housing:
Because of unemployment, many people were being evicted from their homes, and the amount of homeless people in the country significantly rose. People either lived on the streets or they built little shacks out of scrap materials for shelter. 

 Farming:Although farmers had the advantage of being able to grow their own food, many lost their land due to falling prices and rising debt. Therefore many farmers went to tenant farming to just barely make a living. Farmers were also heavily hit by the drought in the early 1930s, and many moved west because of dust storms and evictions.

 Race relations :African Americans had even higher unemployment rates, and were paid less. During the Depression, due to whites who were also competing for jobs, racism towards African Americans was stronger. In fact, 24 African Americans died by lynching in 1933. 
Latinos also dealt with more intense racism due to job competition with whites. Many wanted them to be deported. Some Latinos voluntarily moved to Mexico, others were forced by the Federal Government.  

Family life :Family was highly valued during the Great Depression, it was a symbol of strength and unity during hard times. Because of the tight budget, many families would stay home and play games together for entertainment. But, due to the stress of the Depression and the struggles to make ends meet, some families did break apart. 

 Physical health :Many were dying of starvation during the Great Depression. There was also a rise in the amount of people with malnutrition and diet-related diseases such as rickets.  

Emotional health :
Many people lost their will to survive during the Great Depression because of how demoralizing the hard times were. Suicide rates rose, and admissions to mental hospitals tripled. People gained saving habits as well, and many gave up their life goals and focused on maintaining financial stability instead. Despite these things, generosity was abundant among communities, and people commonly helped out others in need and shared with neighbors.  

Explain or define each of the following:

 Dust bowl-the region of America that was hardest hit by the drought. It included parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.

Shantytowns-little towns made of shacks. They popped up due to the amount of homeless people during the Depression who made shelters out of scraps.

Direct Relief-cash payments or food provided by the government to the poor.

Causes of the Great Depression

1. What industrial weakness signaled a declining economy in the 1920s?    
The industrial weaknesses that signaled a declining economy in the 1920s were the struggling of important industries, the surplus-without-profit situation of farmers, and the debt that consumers and farmers were going into.


2. What did the experience of farmers and consumers at this time suggest about the health of the economy?    
The experiences of farmers and consumers at this time suggested that the health of the economy was diminishing. Farmers needed federal price-supports in order to keep agriculture from going under since they had an abundance of products but a drop of the annual farm income. Consumers had less money to spend on goods because their incomes had been reduced and prices had been increased. Both farmers and consumers were faced with the effects of the previous years that were full of superficial prosperity in the economy.



3. How did speculation and margin buying cause stock prices to rise?    
Speculation and margin buying caused stock prices to rise because more and more people were mindlessly buying and selling stocks, and with these limitless investments the stock market rose on a steady incline. Also, there was barely any regulation by the government in the stock market, so the speculation and margin buying was a bit relentless.

4. What happened to ordinary workers during the Great Depression?    
Many ordinary workers lost their jobs. For the workers that managed to still have a job, they dealt with pay cuts and less working hours.


5. How did the Great Depression affect the world economy?    
The Great Depression caused Congress to pass the Hawley-Smoot Tariff, which caused other countries to raise their tariffs, and therefore the world trade market fell by more than 40%. Also, Britain and Germany were dealing with big debts from the war, and their problems mixed with America's inability to import European goods, limited trade as a whole in the world economy.


Define: 

a. Price-Supports: When the government would buy products, at a set price, that were in surplus and sell them on the world market; those were called price-supports.

b. Credit: A system in which consumers agreed to "buy now and pay later" for products.

c. Dow Jones Industrial Average: The most popularly used barometer of the stock market's health.

d. Speculation: When people carelessly bought stocks and bonds hoping for a quick profit.


e. Buying on Margin: When a consumer would make a down payment for a small amount of a stock's price, and then take up a loan for the rest.


f. Black Tuesday: October 29, 1929-the day when the stock market truly fell. 


g. Hawley-Smoot Tariff: Passed by Congress in 1930, it is the highest protective tariff in all of U.S. history. It was meant to help protect American farmers and manufacturers from foreign competitors, but it ended up having the opposite, negative, effects. It made unemployment worse in America, and caused other country to raise their tariffs, ultimately hurting world trade.