Notes

7.10.1[New Deal]
The New Deal is Pres. FDR’s attempt to fix the ramifications of the Great Depression
I. The New Deal and the 3 R’s
Relief: immediate help for the poor and others in need (i.e, the unemployed)
Recovery: governmental attempt to stimulate the economy and assist businesses
Reform: governmental attempt to transform the American economy and its institutions to prevent another similar situation in the future
Alphabet Soup; refers to FDR’s plans and how many letters were used as identifiers and acronyms
The New Deal and the 3Rs (Dozen of Agencies)
Relief;
FERA; grant to local governments; soup kitchens, breadlines
AAA; subsidies for farmers; (unconstitutional)
CCC; employ young men; paid their families
FHA; insure bank loans; homeowners & companies
Recovery;
NRA; set codes for industries; (unconstitutional)
PWA; provide jobs; built infrastructure
Bank Holiday; close banks; restored confidence
Emergency Banking Relief Act; examine bank; reopened sound ones
Reform; governmental attempt to transform the American economy and its institutions to prevent another similar situation in the future; business but also farmers and industrial workers during the 2nd New Deal
FDIC; guarantee deposits; still around today
SEC; regulate stock market; protected investors
TVA; create jobs and electricity; developed poor areas
The Second New Deal (1935); focused on Relief and Reform
Relief
WPA; provide jobs; built infrastructure
Reform
NLRA (Wagner); right to unionize; collective bargaining
Fair Labor Standards Act; wages and hours; child labor restrictions
Social Security ACT; insurance programs; still around today

7.10.2[New Deal]
I. Criticisms from the Left (Liberals)
Left: wanted more extensive efforts to change the economic system; New Deal helped the business community more than people (i.e., minorities, women, etc.)
Radical (political radicalism, especially working class because of depression) but also demagogues; Huey Long (“Kingfish”)
Unions; Congress of Industrial Organization (“CIO”) and John Lewis organized unskilled and semi-skilled industrial workers
Populist movements; DR. Francis Townsend supported federal benefits program for the elderly; 2% federal sales tax for special fund
II. Criticisms from the Right (Conservative)
Right: sought to limit the New DEal’s scope because it gave the government too much power (socialism or communism)
American Liberty League: were particularly problematic for FDR
Congress: thought it was socialism; WPA and Wagner Act (revolution)
The Supreme Court: NRA and AAA invalidated; “court-packing” scheme controversy or Court Reorganization PLan in 1937
Controversial Figures/Demagogues
Huey Long or “Kingfish” - promoted his “Share Our Wealth” (Left)
Father Charles E. Coughlin- popular radio voice (Right)
Dr. Francis E. Townsend - wanted secure pensions for elderly (Left)
III. Political Realignments (New Deal Coalition)
Question- Why the shift? Groups benefited from the New Deal and could improve their economic situation.
African-Americans: Programs like the National Youth Administrations under the WPA; “Black Cabinet”: Mary McLeod Bethune, RObert C. Weaver, etc.
The “Forgotten Man”; Farmers and country folk who had been suffering for years were helped by the AAA, TVA, etc.; the urban industrial working class now had a right to unionize and engage in collective bargaining thanks to the Wagner Act; ethnic groups and immigrants: Catholics and Jews, among others
IV. Urban Migration for Economic Opportunities
Push Factors: Economic difficulties of the 1930s: remember the “Okies”
Pull Factors: War production and labor during WWII; mobilization and industrial jobs in defense industries led to movement and migration
Great Migration: Midwestern cities (e.g., Chicago) and out West (e.g., Los Angeles), in addition to the usual suspects up North (e.g., New York)

7.10.3[New Deal]
Similarities between the New Deal and Great Society programs was;
Both expanded a social welfare net
Both expanded government programs
Both addressed poverty and unemployment
Both had program to help the elderly
Both were driven by presidential vision and expanded presidential power
One difference between the New Deal and Great SOciety programs was
The GS focused on civil rights, while much of the New Deal did not address civil rights or institutionalized discrimination against African Americans and women in its programs
One reason for a difference between ND and GS programs was:
The GS could build upon the accomplishments of the ND, whereas the intervention of the federal government in society and economy during the ND was unprecedented