FDR’s New Deal was a set of government programs passed by congress
to combat the Great Depression and help millions of Americans in poverty to rise
up again with the help of a multitude of new experimental programs such as the
Tennessee Valley Authority Act (TVA) which enabled the government to spend
on building dams along the Tennessee River to control flooding and give very
inexpensive hydroelectric power to the people nearby giving them electricity and jobs.
With the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), paid a commodity bill to farmers to
leave their fields to dry and sell their cattle to the government for slaughter to end
food surpluses and boost prices. The National Industrial Recovery Act (NRA)
allowed the unionization of workers and bargain for higher wages, as well as nullify
some antitrust laws. He also passed the Glass-Steagall Act, which separated
commercial banking with investment banking barring commercial banks from
owning and selling stocks as well as the Home Owners’ Law Act to help people
who were in danger of losing their homes. Many Americans were pleased with FDR’s
dilligent attempt to recovery of the economy but it wasn’t enough to please the more
desperate.
to combat the Great Depression and help millions of Americans in poverty to rise
up again with the help of a multitude of new experimental programs such as the
Tennessee Valley Authority Act (TVA) which enabled the government to spend
on building dams along the Tennessee River to control flooding and give very
inexpensive hydroelectric power to the people nearby giving them electricity and jobs.
With the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), paid a commodity bill to farmers to
leave their fields to dry and sell their cattle to the government for slaughter to end
food surpluses and boost prices. The National Industrial Recovery Act (NRA)
allowed the unionization of workers and bargain for higher wages, as well as nullify
some antitrust laws. He also passed the Glass-Steagall Act, which separated
commercial banking with investment banking barring commercial banks from
owning and selling stocks as well as the Home Owners’ Law Act to help people
who were in danger of losing their homes. Many Americans were pleased with FDR’s
dilligent attempt to recovery of the economy but it wasn’t enough to please the more
desperate.
The Second New Deal
If this was put into phases then the above would be the First New Deal and the
next couple programs would be the Second New Deal. In April of 1935 FDR created
the Works Progress Administration or the (WPA) and was tasked to provide jobs
however could not compete with other private ventures. Instead the WPA created
roads, bridges, the highways we see now (and the reason why they are kind of bad),
schools, post-offices, and parks. The WPA also gave jobs to artists, writers, actors,
musicians, and directors. On July congress passed the National Labor Relation’s Act
(NLRA)or somehow known as the Wagner Act, named by the Senator of New York,
Robert R. Wagner, after the NRA was declared unconstitutional after employers were
able to interrogate and discharge any union member. The NLRA guaranteed
“the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain
collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in concerted
activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection.”
and it applied to all interstate commerce expect railroads, airliners, agriculture and
government. This also came with the creation of the National Labor Relation’s Board
to see those rights protected. In August FDR signed the Social Security Act (SSA)
that guaranteed pensions to millions of americans and developed a system of
unemployment insurance, and states that the government would help dependent and
disabled children if necessary. However, with all these new programs the depression
carried on and workers became more organized demanding their rights.
next couple programs would be the Second New Deal. In April of 1935 FDR created
the Works Progress Administration or the (WPA) and was tasked to provide jobs
however could not compete with other private ventures. Instead the WPA created
roads, bridges, the highways we see now (and the reason why they are kind of bad),
schools, post-offices, and parks. The WPA also gave jobs to artists, writers, actors,
musicians, and directors. On July congress passed the National Labor Relation’s Act
(NLRA)or somehow known as the Wagner Act, named by the Senator of New York,
Robert R. Wagner, after the NRA was declared unconstitutional after employers were
able to interrogate and discharge any union member. The NLRA guaranteed
“the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain
collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in concerted
activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection.”
and it applied to all interstate commerce expect railroads, airliners, agriculture and
government. This also came with the creation of the National Labor Relation’s Board
to see those rights protected. In August FDR signed the Social Security Act (SSA)
that guaranteed pensions to millions of americans and developed a system of
unemployment insurance, and states that the government would help dependent and
disabled children if necessary. However, with all these new programs the depression
carried on and workers became more organized demanding their rights.
The New Deal's political set back
One set-back it had was its constitutionality. The Supreme Court had already ruled
that the NRA and the AAA were deemed unconstitutional as it was seen as extending
federal authority too much. FDR began to see his New Deal falling apart and in 1937
he began “Court-packing” (Filling the Supreme Court with justices he believes will
reverse some of the decisions) . However his plan was seen from a mile away and
the judges upheld their decisions. This had set back FDR politically and gave new
ammunition to presidential opponents.
In that same year the economy slipped back into a recession and the government
had reduced its spending. Even though these policies had worked there was a growing
anti- Roosevelt sentiment and it made it extremely difficult for FDR to pass any
new acts. Soon enough on December 7, 1941, the Japanesse bombed pearl harbor,
stimulating American industry to help the war effort and as a result, ended
the Great Depression. The New Deal might have only existed for a little time,
however many of its ideas such as Social Security, Federal Agriculture, and
unemployment insurance still exist today.
that the NRA and the AAA were deemed unconstitutional as it was seen as extending
federal authority too much. FDR began to see his New Deal falling apart and in 1937
he began “Court-packing” (Filling the Supreme Court with justices he believes will
reverse some of the decisions) . However his plan was seen from a mile away and
the judges upheld their decisions. This had set back FDR politically and gave new
ammunition to presidential opponents.
In that same year the economy slipped back into a recession and the government
had reduced its spending. Even though these policies had worked there was a growing
anti- Roosevelt sentiment and it made it extremely difficult for FDR to pass any
new acts. Soon enough on December 7, 1941, the Japanesse bombed pearl harbor,
stimulating American industry to help the war effort and as a result, ended
the Great Depression. The New Deal might have only existed for a little time,
however many of its ideas such as Social Security, Federal Agriculture, and
unemployment insurance still exist today.
Sources:
The New Deal
The Glass-Steagall Act
The National Labor Relations Act
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