The New Deal: Programs and Impact

• The New Deal was a series of programs and reforms initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression
• The briefing document analyzes key aspects of the New Deal using excerpts from Foner's "Chapter 21: The New Deal"
• The document explores the political and economic context, major programs, challenges, criticisms, and lasting impacts

Context of the New Deal

• The Great Depression spurred the New Deal, marked by widespread unemployment, bank failures, and economic hardship
• Dramatic unemployment rates spiked around 1933
• The first "Hundred Days" of Roosevelt's presidency involved a flurry of legislative activity to combat the Depression
• The New Deal shifted the government's role, increasing intervention in the economy and individual lives
• FDR's pragmatic approach moved away from purely laissez-faire economic policies

Major Programs and Initiatives

• The National Industrial Recovery Act (NRA) aimed for industrial recovery through business-government cooperation
• The NRA sought to control output, prices, and working conditions, reducing competition and rapidly promoting government involvement
• The Public Works Administration (PWA) focused on large-scale public works projects for job creation and infrastructure improvement
• The PWA spent billions on highways, federal buildings, dams, and other public facilities
• The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was a regional development program focused on building dams
• The TVA generated electricity, controlled flooding, and improved the economy in the Tennessee Valley
• As the most ambitious New Deal initiative, the TVA controlled flooding and deforestation along the Tennessee River, providing cheap electric power
• The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) employed young men in national forests, parks, and recreational areas for conservation projects
• The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) sought to raise farm prices by limiting agricultural production, addressing oversupply and price drops
• The AAA tried to address "overproduction" by limiting crops, and paid subsidies to farmers who agreed to reduce production
• The Social Security Act established a system of old-age insurance, unemployment compensation, and aid to families with dependent children
• The launch of the Social Security Act laid the foundation for a modern welfare state
• The Works Progress Administration (WPA) employed millions in public works, infrastructure, and arts projects
• The WPA constructed highways, airports, libraries, schools, public buildings, and funded artists, writers, and actors

Themes and Ideas of the New Deal

• A major goal was to address the lack of economic security for Americans, emphasizing job creation, unemployment benefits, and social insurance
• Roosevelt believed the government was responsible for citizens' "freedom from want" through economic recovery and social reforms
• The New Deal increased government intervention in the economy, believing the federal government had a role in providing economic security
• The principle of the "free marketplace" was abandoned for a more government-driven economy
• The New Deal was often interpreted as providing social justice through economic and social reforms
• Roosevelt's policies heavily focused on helping the "forgotten man," those most impacted by the Depression
• The New Deal was characterized by experimentation, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances, with policies created to experiment with a variety of economic and social reforms
• Freedom and security were linked, with Roosevelt believing economic security was required to ensure freedom
• Freedom encompassed economic security and individual liberties; a person cannot truly be free if suffering economically
• Roosevelt emphasized "positive government" working to achieve the good of the population

Challenges and Criticisms of the New Deal

• Many programs faced Supreme Court challenges, with some declared unconstitutional
• The Supreme Court originally struck down several initiatives including the NRA and the AAA
• Criticism came from the left (not doing enough) and the right (too interventionist and infringing on individual liberty)
• The left charged that the New Deal did not do enough to aid the poor and disadvantaged
• The right maintained that the New Deal was too socialistic and destroying free enterprise
• The programs were criticized for potential effects on the budget and restrictions on free enterprise
• The New Deal was attacked as a dangerous move toward socialism that undermined the free enterprise system
• The New Deal fueled a growing political divide and political polarization
• The political fault lines in the U.S. ran more clearly than ever along lines of class and ideology
• Despite aspirations, the New Deal did not fully address racial and gender inequalities
• The programs did little to challenge racial discrimination or directly attack racial inequality
• Some programs reinforced existing racial inequalities

The New Deal and Specific Groups

• The New Deal had mixed impacts on African Americans, offering some benefits but also reinforcing discriminatory practices
• New Deal policies initially neglected the needs of African Americans and did little to challenge racial discrimination
• Many projects were segregated, and African Americans did not receive equal treatment when it came to aid and opportunity
• The programs brought more women into government, but gender inequalities persisted in the workforce and wage gaps
• While it brought women into government posts, the programs largely benefited men and reinforced traditional ideas about female roles
• Many initiatives reinforced traditional views about women's role in the workforce and home
• The New Deal era saw a rise in labor union membership and power, particularly with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)
• The CIO embarked on labor actions that led to tremendous growth in union membership and power in the 1930s

Lasting Impact and Legacy

• It permanently altered the relationship between government and people, with a much larger role for the federal government
• The Social Security Act established the foundation for the modern social safety net in the United States
• It cemented the Democratic Party's dominance for several decades and created a political polarization that continues today
• It introduced the concept of a "safety net" as part of American identity
• The New Deal helped Americans understand that they were citizens not just of their states, but of their national community

The Rise of Popular Front

• The "Popular Front" during the New Deal era united different groups like the Communist Party against Fascism in Europe and perceived oppression in the US during the Depression
• The Popular Front was an "unprecedented political alliance"

Analysis of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs during the Great Depression. It covers the economic and political context, major initiatives, challenges, and long-term impact as detailed in Foner's Chapter 21.