THE SECOND NEW DEAL

Obama on FDR http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXfOrOQi8d4

Critics of the New Deal

New Deal under attackDeficit Spending

○ A necessary evilWhen is it used?

John Keynes○ Stimulate Economy○ Spend our way out

of the DepressionDid the New Deal

end the Depression?

The Second New Deal

Continued to help FarmersWorkersHomebuyersElderly

Issues continued

Gains were not great Unemployment remained high Production still lagged

Eleanor Roosevelt

Supported the Second New Deal Social reformer and humanitarian Contributed great political skills Observed social conditions

Reported back to FDR Urged FDR to appoint women to

government positions

Eleanor Roosevelt

Urged the President to take a stand on controversial issues

Interested in Child welfareHousing reformEqual rights for womenEqual rights for minorities

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Speech on Human Rights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPVWmmVKVk0

Dorothea Lange

Born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1895 Studied photography in NYC 1936 visited Nipomo, California

Migrant Mother

Election of 1936

Republicans nominated Alfred LandonGovernor of Kansas

Democrats nominated Franklin RooseveltSecond New Deal was under way

Overwhelming victory for the DemocratsFirst election where most African Americans

voted Democratic rather than RepublicanFirst time labor unions gave united support to a

presidential candidate

The Supreme Court NIRA is unconstitutional

Declared law gave legislative powers to the executive branchOutside of federal government’s constitutional powers to

regulate interstate commerce AAA should be regulated by state not federal

government “Court Packing Bill” (1937)

Why did he propose it?Appoint 6 new justicesHugo S. Black shifts the balanceViolation of separation of powers?How did Roosevelt get his way?

Youth, professionals, and other workers

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Headed by Harry HopkinsTurned it into largest employer in the

countryCreate many jobs, fast!1935-1943 spent $11 billionJobs to 8 million

○ Unskilled

WPA Eleanor Roosevelt

WomenMinoritiesYoung people

WPA: what they did 850 airports 651,000 miles of roads and

streets 125,000 public buildings 300 million garments for the

needyMade by women in sewing

groups

Labor Unions

Better working conditions because of the Wagner Act

Roosevelt was a “Friend of Labor”Unions donated to his campaignWorkers pledged their votes

Especially affected coal miners and those working in mass-production industries (i.e. automobile, rubber, electrical)

Congress of Industrial Organizations 1938 Labor organization composed of

industrial unionsSplit from the Committee for Industrial

Organization which signed up unskilled and semi-skilled workers○ Gained union recognition within 2 years

Labor Disputes

Sit in strikesUsed to bargain during labor movementsStayed in factory but did not do work

○ Why would this be effective?

Memorial Day massacre

Memorial Day 1937 Police attacked striking steelworkers outside

the Republic Steel plant 10 were killed and 84 wounded NLRB stepped in and required the head of

Republic Steel to negotiate with the unionThis helped labor gain strength

Slave Narratives

Arnold Gragston http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsDelVbWozA

Sarah Gudger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CrcHBWk8S8

National Youth Administration (NYA)

ProvidedEducationJobsCounselingRecreationAid to high school,

college, and graduate students○ Worked part-time in

exchange

Improving Labor Conditions

1935 NIRA ruled unconstitutional National Labor Relations Act (Wagner

Act)Senator Robert Wagner (New York)Protected rights of workers

○ Join unions○ Engage in collective bargaining

Prohibited unfair practices

Fair Labor Standards Act

1938 Maximum hours at 44 per week Minimum wage = 25 cents/hour

40 cents/hour by 1945 Rules for 16yrs and under Banned hazardous work for 18 and

under

Social Security Act

1935 chaired by Frances Perkins 3 major parts

Old-age insurance for retirees 65+ and spousesUnemployment compensation systemAid to families with dependent children and the

disabled Provided substantial benefits to millions

Social Security Government began accepting responsibility

for providing assistance to needy members of society Old age insuranceUnemployment compensationAid to disabled and dependent children

Utilities 1935 = 12.6% of

American farms had electricity

Rural Electrification Administration (REA)Executive orderBring electricity to isolated

areas 1945 = 48% of American

farms and rural homes had electricity

1949 = 90%