Questions and Answers
What transformed the American economy and landscape during the Roosevelt administration?
Who was the Democratic president from 1932 to 1940?
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
What was the New Deal?
A series of reforms aimed at ending the economic depression.
What was the purpose of the bank holiday declared by FDR?
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What did the Emergency Banking Act of 1933 address?
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What were the Hundred Days?
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What was the National Recovery Administration?
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What major public works program employed 200,000 young men during the Great Depression?
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How much did the Public Works Administration spend on construction?
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What was the purpose of the Tennessee Valley Authority?
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What effect did the Agricultural Adjustment Act (1935) have on farmers?
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What was the Dust Bowl?
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What did the Federal Housing Administration establish?
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What is the function of the Securities Exchange Commission?
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What did the Twenty-First Amendment achieve?
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What did the Congress of Industrial Organizations focus on?
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What is a sit-down strike?
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What does the under-consumption theory suggest?
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What was the Share Our Wealth movement?
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What was the Townsend plan?
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What was the Rural Electrification Agency established for?
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What was introduced in the Second New Deal?
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What was the role of the Works Progress Administration?
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What did the Social Security Act (1935) guarantee?
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What did the Wagner Act establish?
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What characterizes a welfare state?
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What were the fireside chats?
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What was significant about the Election of 1936?
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What was the Court-packing plan proposed by FDR?
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What do minimum wage laws do?
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What is Keynesian economics?
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Who was Eleanor Roosevelt?
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What was the Indian New Deal?
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Who was Mary MacLeod Bethune?
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What is 'redlining'?
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What was the Popular Front?
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Who were the Scottsboro Boys?
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What was the Smith Act of 1940?
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What was the purpose of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)?
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Study Notes
Public Works Revolution
- Transformed American economy and infrastructure.
- Under Roosevelt's administration, dams, bridges, roads, hospitals, and educational facilities were constructed, fostering job creation.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- Served as Democratic president from 1932-1940.
- Developed the New Deal to help the nation recover from the Great Depression.
New Deal
- A comprehensive series of reforms aimed at ending economic depression.
- Marked a shift from Hoover's policies, demonstrating increased government intervention and support.
Bank Holiday
- FDR declared all banks closed for evaluation to ensure stability.
- Only banks deemed stable were allowed to reopen, promoting public confidence in the banking system.
Emergency Banking Act (1933)
- Legislation addressing bank insolvency during the depression.
- Allowed for the closure of weak banks while enabling stronger banks to reopen after reorganization.
Hundred Days
- Initial period of intense legislative activity following FDR's election, resulting in over 15 laws passed.
- Showed the government's commitment to addressing economic issues, despite some programs being ineffective.
National Recovery Administration
- Government agency created to regulate industry and promote fair competition.
- Set minimum wages and maximum working hours to improve labor conditions.
Civilian Conservation Corps
- Major public works program during the Great Depression, employing 200,000 young men.
- Focused on environmental conservation projects but limited participation for women.
Public Works Administration
- Invested $4 billion in infrastructure, creating jobs in the construction of dams, schools, and public buildings.
- Employed 2.6 million workers in the first month.
Tennessee Valley Authority
- Established a hydroelectric network to supply affordable electricity to impoverished regions.
- Facilitated job creation, flood control, and recreational opportunities while improving local infrastructure.
Agricultural Adjustment Act (1935)
- Provided subsidies to farmers to reduce production, aiming to raise crop prices.
- Did not significantly benefit sharecroppers, highlighting disparities in farm support.
Dust Bowl
- Severe drought in the Great Plains during the 1930s leading to massive agricultural failure.
- Displaced many farmers and exacerbated economic hardship.
Federal Housing Administration
- Created in 1943 to promote home ownership through insurance against lender nonpayment.
- Aimed to stabilize the housing market post-Depression.
Securities Exchange Commission
- Formed in 1934 to oversee the stock market.
- Enforced laws to prevent practices that could lead to another economic depression.
Twenty-First Amendment
- Repealed the 18th Amendment, thereby ending Prohibition.
- Allowed for the regulation of alcohol sales.
Congress of Industrial Organizations
- A federation of labor unions representing unskilled workers.
- Differentiated from the AFL, which focused on skilled labor.
Sit-down Strike
- A form of protest where workers halt production and refuse to leave the workplace until demands are addressed.
- A significant tactic in labor rights movements.
Under Consumption Theory
- Proposed that insufficient consumer demand hampered economic recovery.
- Led to government actions aimed at increasing wages for workers.
Share Our Wealth Movement
- Initiated by Huey Long to address wealth inequality exacerbated by the Depression.
- Advocated for the heavy taxation of the wealthy to redistribute wealth to the poor.
Townsend Plan
- Proposed by Francis Townsend in 1933, suggested $200 monthly payments for citizens over 60.
- Mobilized support through Townsend Clubs advocating for old-age pensions.
Rural Electrification Agency
- Established in 1935, aimed to provide low-cost electricity to rural American families.
- Focused on areas neglected by private power companies.
Second New Deal
- Introduced in spring 1935, adding new relief programs, banking reforms, and tax laws.
- Reflected continued government intervention in the economy.
Works Progress Administration
- Created approximately 9 million jobs throughout the New Deal era.
- Focused on public infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges.
Social Security Act (1935)
- Instituted federal-state unemployment insurance and retirement payments starting at age 65.
- Provided support for dependent groups, aiming to ensure a safety net for citizens.
Wagner Act
- Established in 1935, it safeguarded workers' rights to unionize and engage in collective bargaining.
- Created the National Labor Relations Board to oversee labor relations.
Welfare State
- Describes a government model that ensures citizens' welfare through various social programs.
- Includes public health, housing, pensions, and unemployment compensation services.
Fireside Chats
- Informal radio addresses by FDR intended to inform and reassure the public.
- Aimed to maintain morale and explain government actions regarding the Depression.
Election of 1936
- Featured FDR against Alf Landon, resulting in one of the largest electoral victories in U.S. history.
- FDR secured all electoral votes, reflecting widespread public support.
Court-Packing Plan
- FDR's proposal to expand the Supreme Court by adding justices for those over 70.5 years old.
- Aimed to gain control of the court but faced significant opposition and was ultimately rejected.
Minimum Wage Laws
- Established foundational wage levels for American workers.
- Addressed some causes of unemployment by constraining wage competition.
Keynesian Economics
- Economic theory advocating for increased government spending during economic downturns and reduction during booms.
- Influenced New Deal strategies for economic recovery.
Eleanor Roosevelt
- FDR's wife and an active advocate for civil rights, workers' rights, and social reforms.
- Broke traditional roles and fought against Jim Crow laws while promoting women's rights.
Indian New Deal
- Provided Native Americans with greater self-governance and additional resources for education and healthcare.
- Aimed to improve living conditions for indigenous populations.
Mary MacLeod Bethune
- Appointed by FDR to lead the National Youth Administration.
- Advocated for African American rights and highlighted social injustices.
Redlining
- Discriminatory practice denying services based on racially determined areas.
- Resulted in economic and social disadvantages for minority communities.
The Popular Front
- Coalition led by the American Communist Party supporting FDR and the New Deal.
- Advocated for social justice and anti-racism during the mid-1930s.
Scottsboro Boys
- Nine African American youths wrongfully accused of raping two white women.
- Supreme Court ruling underscored the right to a fair trial and exposed racial injustices.
Smith Act (1940)
- Criminalized advocacy for the violent overthrow of the government.
- Aimed to suppress potential threats to national security.
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
- Established by Congress to investigate alleged subversive activities.
- Focused on identifying disloyal Americans and communist influences.
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Test your knowledge with these flashcards on Chapter 21 of 'Give Me Liberty'. Learn key terms and concepts related to the Roosevelt administration, the New Deal, and the public works revolution that reshaped America. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of this critical period in American history.
