Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal

Life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt Fifth cousin of Theodore

Roosevelt Married TR’s niece

Eleanor, a tall very unattractive woman who had a brilliant mind

FDR was born into wealth, had graduated from Harvard, been a state legislator, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Wilson, candidate for Vice-President, and governor of New York.

The 6’2” tall Roosevelt was stricken with polio in 1921. This became the making of the leader Roosevelt. Eleanor became his legs and conscience.

Unlike TR who was confrontational, FDR was conciliatory.

As Governor of New York, he spent great amounts of money to help relieve the suffering of “the forgotten man”. It would be better to spend money than lose humanity.

The wealthy considered Roosevelt a traitor to his class

Life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt

The Republicans re-nominate Hoover, but they're not enthusiastic about their chances.

Roosevelt wanted to repeal prohibition, a balanced budget and social and economic reforms.

Roosevelt’s theme was “Happy Days are Here Again”

Hoover campaign was “It could have been worse.”

1932 Election

1932 Election

Roosevelt won in a landslide.

FDR’s Inauguration

March 4, 1933 – Speech broadcast over the radio

Denounced the money changers who had brought the calamity

Government must wage war on the Great Depression

“Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

FDR’s Inauguration

FDR and the Three R’sRelief, Recovery, Reform

Recovery Relief ReformFDR closes the banks 3/06/33

Beer Wine Revenue Act 03/22/33

Unemployment Relief Act(CCC) 03/31/33

Gold surrender 4/5/33

Abandon gold standard 4/19/33

Federal Emergency Relief Act 05/12/33

Agricultural Adjustment Act 5/12/33

Tennessee Valley Authority Act Federal Securities Act 05/18/33

Gold Payment Clause Repeal 06/05/33

Home Owners Loan Corporation 6/13/33

NRA and PWA created 6/16/33

Glass-Steagall Reforms create FDIC 6/16/33

Short term goals were relief and immediate recovery within two years

Long term – permanent recovery and reform of abuses of the economic system

The public loved this even if it didn’t work because the government was making movement

Lots of old progressive ideas

Roosevelt’s Goals

Hopkins , a New Yorker, led the FERA and later the CWA a temp agency of the government

Frances Perkins , another New Yorker, first Female cabinet member – Sec. of Labor. Involved in labor since the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.

Harry Hopkins and Frances PerkinsSuper New Dealers

Huey P. Long – progressive governor of Louisiana who ruled with dictatorial powers. Later U.S. Senator made pie in the sky promises. Known as the Kingfish

“Everyman a King” , “Share the Wealth” Take the money from the wealthy and give each family $5,000.

Assassinated in Louisiana in 1935

The Demagogues

“Now, ladies and gentlemen, if I may proceed to give you some other words that I think you can understand -- I am not going to belabor you by quoting tonight -- I am going to tell you what the wise men of all ages and all times, down even to the present day, have all said: That you must keep the wealth of the country scattered, and you must limit the amount that any one man can own. You cannot let any man own $300,000,000,000 or $400,000,000,000. If you do, one man can own all of the wealth that they United States has in it.”

Father Charles Coughlin

Catholic priest with a radio show that very anti New Deal. Had 40,000,000 radio fans until his anti-Semitic and fascist rhetoric turned off America.

Very isolationist

Dr. Francis Townsend

A California doctor whose savings had been wiped out.

His plan was for the government to give seniors $200 a month provided that the money be spent in the month. He had over 5,000,000 followers.

Against the New Deal Called the NRA – Nuts Running America The NRA symbol that blue buzzard

Henry Ford

The Federal Housing Administration Created in 1934 to give small loans to

homeowners to remodel or complete new homes.

It is still around today

FHA

Unemployment insurance and old age pensions

1935 Provided federal – state unemployment

insurance Retired workers would receive regular

payments from Washington Provisions made for the blind, physically

handicapped and orphans

Social Security

Social Security

Paid by payroll taxes

By 1939, 45 million people were eligible for Social Security

You have to be employed to be covered

New Deal Defeats

The NRA was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court

Called the Sick Chicken ruling

Said Congress couldn’t delegate legislative powers to the executive branch

Wagner Act or National Labor Relations Act of 1935 Right for labor to

engage in self-organization

Bargain collectively Unskilled laborers

organized themselves –CIO

Bloody strikes with workers killed by the police

Fair Labor Standards Act (Wages and Bills) minimum wage and 40 hours work week

Roosevelt renominated The party’s platform stood squarely on the

New Deal Republicans nominate Alfred Landon ,

governor of Kansas Republicans condemned Franklin Deficit

Roosevelt Accused Roosevelt of making the U.S.

Socialist

1936 Election

1936 Election

President Roosevelt took oath on Jan 20, 1937 as prescribed by the 20th amendment

Roosevelt felt that his election was a mandate to do what he wanted

Became impatient with the makeup of the Supreme Court

Asked for the ability to appoint a judge for every justice over the age of 70.

Court Packing

The maximum membership would be 15 justices

Public angered because Roosevelt seemed to be doing away with checks and balances

Congress rebelled and Roosevelt lost his party for the first time

Eventually age gave Roosevelt the ability to appoint 9 justices.

Court Packing

Court Packing

Court Packing

Still had 15% unemployment In 1937, the economy took a major swing

down Roosevelt decide to embrace John Maynard

Keynes economic policy of deficit spending. A major turning point for the economy

The End of the New Deal

The Legacy of the New Deal

• The New Deal operated to balance competing economic interests.

• The New Deal’s mediating role established the broker state, which helped work out conflicts among different interests.

• The New Deal had limited success, but gave Americans a stronger sense of security and stability.

• The New Deal brought a new public attitude regarding the government.

• The program gave Americans a safety net that provided safeguards and relief programs to protect them from economic disaster.

The Legacy of the New Deal

1. Was the New Deal a success? Why or why not?

2. How radical was the New Deal?3. Create an acrostic for New Deal 4. Create a political cartoon about the legacy

of the New Deal

Questions