Roosevelt’s New Deal The federal govt. becomes concerned with the social welfare of the poor

Roosevelt’s New Deal

The federal govt. becomes concerned with the social welfare of

the poor

Social Security• set up to help the elderly, disabled,

children, and unemployed• 1. created a pension for retired workers

(65+)• 2. offered unemployed short-term

benefits while they looked for work• 3. provided payments to women with

dependent children or to disabled people

Frances Perkins• Secretary of Labor• 1st woman ever appointed

to the Cabinet• believed in strong govt.

involvement in the economy

• created labor reforms and government agencies to aid unemployment & workers

The WPA

• Works Project Administration – largest employer of the country

• purpose: create organizations that give jobs & wages to people currently unemployed– Ex. building roads, libraries, parks,

airports, etc.

Civilian Conservation Corps• designed to tackle the

problem of unemployed young men (18-25)

• gave environmental jobs to men: plant trees, built public parks, restocked rivers with fish, etc.

• 3 million men served in the CCC

The Federal Housing Administration

• insured mortgages of lower-income Americans (helping these people afford homes)

• provided loans to local govts. for public housing projects

Eleanor Roosevelt• political “helpmate”

(compared to Hillary Clinton)

• she became FDR’s eyes & ears (especially during ill times)

• strong 1st lady behind the man

Arizona & the Depression

• Route 66 – population increase (migrant farmers from the Dust Bowl)

• JOBS! Copper, cotton, farming, and mining flourished during this time

• copper & cotton prices drop

Indian New Deal

• hopped on the bandwagon • used federal funding to create

jobs for Indians on reservations (built schools, hospitals, gave food aid)

• Indian Reorganization Act – self-governing reservations

Congress of Industrial Organization

• federation of unions that organized industrial workers

• sit-down strike – remained in the factories but refused to work– to prevent owners from replacing

them with new employees

The Supreme Court• Supreme Ct. worried that President

Roosevelt was taking more power than the Constitution

• The Court had ruled against some New Deal programs, so…

• “Court Packing bill” – allowed the President to appoint up to 6 new justices; rejected; but established power of the Presidency

Critics of FDR• Huey Long

– Populist Louisiana Senator who wanted a radical redistribution of wealth to get out of the Great Depression; he thought FDR didn’t push as much as he should have

• Supreme Court– because of the court packing bill, thought FDR was

unjust• Dr. Francis Townsend

– wanted $200/mo. to elderly, Social Security did not reach that amount

Why haven’t we had another Depression?

• govt. set up programs to prevent another Depression– i.e. Social Security & Federal Deposit

Insurance Corporation