Table of Contents
The New Deal was a series of government programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression. It focused on providing relief to the unemployed and creating jobs, reforming business and finance, and providing economic relief to farmers.
Development and implementation
Importance
Main Goal
Alphabet Agencies
Least Benefitted
In conclusion
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s program of relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression
America was affected by the Great Depression. This issue was addressed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the president. This was something that Franklin D. Roosevelt was optimistic about. He stated that he “Promised new deals and a better life for the American people”. This demonstrated to America that Franklin D. Roosevelt wasn’t afraid to take large steps to fix this country. Although it was difficult to implement, it provided a slight step forward in the right direction.
Development and implementation. In his first 100 days as president, Franklin D. Roosevelt developed and implemented The New Deal. This was Roosevelt’s main agenda. He believed it was the most important thing he could do. The unemployment rate was high and the market for jobs was in trouble. It was therefore crucial that America implement a plan similar to this one. This was something that FDR felt would give the America a sense of assurance.SignificanceThis deal was so significant because more economic responsibility was put on federal government than ever before. Uncontrolled commerce, which was not controlled previously, is now controlled by the federal government. This allowed for the revival of many jobs that had been lost during Great Depression. Because it began to address the basic needs of every American citizen, the New Deal was important. The New Deal was able to be trusted by Americans because of this.
Key ObjectiveRoosevelt required a plan in order to support The New Deal. The 3 R’s, Recovery, Relief, Reform, were created here. Recovery was intended to aid the recovery of the economy after the Great Depression. This was temporary aid to those Americans who lost their jobs. Reform attempted to resolve the root causes and provide temporary assistance for those who were out of work. These R’s were important because it led to more attention on regulation of banks and stock market, helping farmers, and decreasing the debt. Our next topic is Alphabet Agencies.
Alphabet AgenciesThe ideology of the 3 R’s had an immediate impact on the creation of the Alphabet Agency Initiatives. The Social Security Act is a prominent agency related to relief. In poverty, more than 40% of seniors were living. This prevents seniors from becoming poor after retirement. FDR was against the idea that Americans should be poor when they retire. The banks were another area that needed attention. FDR and Congress resolved the problem of citizens not trusting banks. The FDIC and Bank Reform were created to ensure that citizens’ deposits are safe. If the banks were to fail, citizens would have their funds. The National Industrial Recovery Act was a first step in helping the economy recover. This act was designed to maintain decent wages and industry in order help the economy recover. It was crucial to establish the Tennessee Valley Authority. The Tennessee Valley Authority (2017) stated that the act was intended to control flooding and improve navigability. This act resulted in a tremendous agricultural and industrial growth rate. Federal Housing Administration Act helped to raise standard of living. This was important because of the increased demand for construction workers.
The New Deal provided assistance to many, but not all were equally advantaged. This was a difficult time for African Americans. During World War II, African Americans had a 50% unemployment rate. The segregation of this time meant that African Americans would receive a lower wage than white workers even if they did get a job. FDR refused to stand for civil rights. FDR fully believed that if civil rights were supported, he wouldn’t receive support from the south Democrats. Therefore, there was no New Deal legislation. The New Deal did not provide any benefits to African Americans. NRA was a platform that provided whites with the highest quality jobs and encouraged African Americans to work in low-wage, separate jobs. FHA did not grant mortgages for African Americans trying to buy land in white neighborhoods. The Social Security Act didn’t support African Americans working in the jobs they usually do. Finally, the president did not support anti-lynching bills, which would have significantly reduced hate crime.
The Mexican Americans were another group that had their problems. The Federation of Labor was under pressure from the Mexican Americans to leave after the crash of the stock market. This was done because the government believed that it would increase economic growth. Our police forces had to detain Mexican immigrants. Soon, Mexican immigrants fled America involuntarily due to the threat of deportation and unemployment. FDR attempted to solve this problem with CCC, the WPA by employing unemployed Mexican Americans. The Farm Security Administration attempted to create camps for migrant workers. The Farm Security Administration failed to grant relief assistance to the Mexican immigrants, as they did not meet the residency requirements. A worker who worked in agriculture was not eligible for Social Security Act benefits or worker’s comp.
ConclusionThe New Deal is complex, ineffective and highly effective in the eyes of some. It brought stability and safety to America. It also put the nation in a new place. It set a new standard for government and drove our country’s resolve to take on more risk. The New Deal was America’s most significant achievement.
