The New DealThe New Deal

PresidentPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Franklin D. Roosevelt’s plan/program to alleviate the plan/program to alleviate the

problems of the Great problems of the Great Depression focusing on relief for Depression focusing on relief for the needy, economic recovery the needy, economic recovery

and financial reformand financial reform

FDR: The ManFDR: The Man►Distant cousin of Distant cousin of

Pres. T.R.Pres. T.R.►More than any More than any

other president—other president—popularly known popularly known by his initialsby his initials

►Only child of a Only child of a wealthy NY familywealthy NY family

►Paralyzed by polio in 1921Paralyzed by polio in 1921

FDR: Greatest FDR: Greatest StrengthsStrengths

►Warm personality Warm personality ►Speaking styleSpeaking style►LeadershipLeadership

Eleanor RooseveltEleanor Roosevelt►Most active first lady in American Most active first lady in American

historyhistory►Wrote newspaper columns, gave Wrote newspaper columns, gave

speeches, traveled the countryspeeches, traveled the country►Served as the president’s social Served as the president’s social

conscience & influenced him to conscience & influenced him to support minorities and the less support minorities and the less fortunatefortunate

New Deal PhilosophyNew Deal Philosophy►In his campaign for president In his campaign for president

(1932), FDR offered vague promises (1932), FDR offered vague promises but no concrete programsbut no concrete programs

►FDR did not have a detailed plan for FDR did not have a detailed plan for ending the depressionending the depression

►Committed to action & willing to Committed to action & willing to experiment with political solutions experiment with political solutions to economic problemsto economic problems

New DealNew Deal

►During the early years of During the early years of FDR’s presidency, it became FDR’s presidency, it became clear that his New Deal clear that his New Deal programs were to serve the programs were to serve the three R’s . . . three R’s . . .

New Deal: New Deal:

►Relief Relief for people out of workfor people out of work►RecoveryRecovery for business & the for business & the

economyeconomy►ReformReform of American economic of American economic

institutionsinstitutions

RecoveryRecovery►FDR’s first two years in office were FDR’s first two years in office were

largely focused on achieving one of largely focused on achieving one of the three R’s: recoverythe three R’s: recovery

►Financial recovery programs included: Financial recovery programs included: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Public Works Administration (PWA) the Public Works Administration (PWA) . . .. . .

Brain TrustBrain Trust►In giving shape to his New In giving shape to his New

Deal, FDR relied on a group of Deal, FDR relied on a group of advisers who had assisted him advisers who had assisted him while he was governor of NYwhile he was governor of NY

►Roosevelt turned to a group of Roosevelt turned to a group of university professors, known university professors, known as the Brain Trustas the Brain Trust

AdvisersAdvisers

►The people FDR appointed to The people FDR appointed to administrative positions were administrative positions were the most diverse in US historythe most diverse in US history

►Record number of African Record number of African Americans, Catholics, Jews & Americans, Catholics, Jews & womenwomen

Perkins: Woman of Perkins: Woman of VisionVision

►His Secretary of Labor was His Secretary of Labor was Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins

► First First female cabinet female cabinet secretarysecretary

The First Hundred DaysThe First Hundred Days►With the nation desperate & close With the nation desperate & close

to the brink of panic, the to the brink of panic, the Democratic Congress looked to Democratic Congress looked to the president for leadershipthe president for leadership

►Immediately after being sworn Immediately after being sworn into office (1933) Roosevelt called into office (1933) Roosevelt called Congress into a 100 day long Congress into a 100 day long special sessionspecial session

The First 100 DaysThe First 100 Days►During this brief period, Congress During this brief period, Congress

passed into law every request of passed into law every request of FDRFDR

►Enacted more major legislation Enacted more major legislation than any single Congress in than any single Congress in historyhistory

►So numerous were the new laws & So numerous were the new laws & agencies—they were referred to by agencies—they were referred to by their initials (WPA, AAA, CCC. . .)their initials (WPA, AAA, CCC. . .)

Bank HolidayBank Holiday►In early 1933, banks were failing In early 1933, banks were failing

at a frightening rate, as at a frightening rate, as depositors flocked to withdraw depositors flocked to withdraw fundsfunds

►To restore confidence in banks, To restore confidence in banks, FDR ordered the banks closed for FDR ordered the banks closed for a bank holiday (March 6, 1933)a bank holiday (March 6, 1933)

Bank HolidayBank Holiday►FDR went on the radio to FDR went on the radio to explain that banks would explain that banks would be reopened after be reopened after allowing enough time for allowing enough time for the govt to reorganize the govt to reorganize them on a sound basisthem on a sound basis

Fireside ChatsFireside Chats