The New Deal: Relief, Recovery, and Reform

The New Deal (The 3 R's)

• The New Deal was a series of programs and projects enacted in the United States during the Great Depression (1933-1939)
• It was in response to the economic crisis
• It was initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
• The 3 R's represent the goals of the New Deal programs
• Relief: Provided immediate assistance to the unemployed and those in poverty
• Recovery: Aimed to stimulate the economy and bring it out of the depression
• Reform: Enacted measures to prevent future economic crises and improve the functioning of the financial system

New Deal Coalition

• Refers to the alignment of interest groups and voting blocs that supported the Democratic Party and President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the New Deal era
• It brought together various groups, including labor unions, minority groups, farmers, immigrants, and intellectuals
• It dominated American politics for several decades

"Bank Holiday"

• A temporary closure of banks to stabilize the banking system during a financial crisis
• In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared a "bank holiday" to halt panic withdrawals and restore confidence in banks

Emergency Banking Act

• Passed in 1933 during the Great Depression
• Aimed to stabilize the banking system
• It provided for the inspection of banks before they could reopen
• It gave the President broad powers to regulate banking transactions and foreign exchange

Glass-Steagall Act

• Enacted in 1933
• Separated commercial banking from investment banking
• It created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
• The FDIC provides deposit insurance to protect depositors' accounts in case of bank failures

FDR's Fireside Chats

• Series of informal radio addresses given by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the American people
• Roosevelt communicated his policies, concerns, and goals to the public in a clear and reassuring manner
• They helped build public confidence and support for his New Deal programs

Hundred Days

• Refers to the first 100 days of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration in 1933
• During this period, Roosevelt and Congress enacted a series of major legislation aimed at addressing the Great Depression
• It set the tone for his presidency and demonstrated his commitment to decisive action

National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA)

• Legislation passed in 1933
• Sought to promote industrial recovery during the Great Depression
• It established the National Recovery Administration (NRA)
• It allowed industries to create codes of fair competition to regulate prices, wages, and working conditions

National Recovery Administration (NRA)

• Government agency established in 1933
• Part of the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA)
• Sought to promote industrial recovery during the Great Depression
• It encouraged industries to establish codes of fair competition and collective bargaining

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

• Public work relief program established in 1933
• Provided employment for young men during the Great Depression
• They worked on conservation projects in rural areas
• Activities included planting trees, building parks, and improving infrastructure

Public Works Administration (PWA)

• A New Deal agency created in 1933
• Funded large-scale public works projects to create jobs and stimulate the economy during the Great Depression
• Projects included the construction of dams, bridges, schools, and hospitals

Civil Works Administration (CWA)

• A short-lived job creation program established in 1933
• It provided temporary employment to millions of unemployed individuals during the winter of 1933-1934
• Workers were involved in various public works projects, such as road construction and school repairs

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

• A federal corporation created in 1933
• It aimed to develop the Tennessee River Valley
• Provided electricity, flood control, navigation, and agricultural development to the region
• One of the most ambitious and successful New Deal projects

Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)

• Enacted in 1933
• Sought to raise agricultural prices by reducing crop surpluses
• The government paid farmers to reduce their acreage and production of certain crops
• Declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1936

Dust Bowl

• Ecological disaster that affected the Great Plains region of the United States during the 1930s
• Caused by a combination of drought, soil erosion, and poor farming practices
• Resulted in widespread crop failures, economic hardship, and displacement of farmers

Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

• Established in 1934
• Improve housing standards and conditions
• Provide mortgage insurance to encourage lending institutions to finance home construction and purchases

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

• Largest and most comprehensive New Deal agency
• Employed millions of unemployed individuals to carry out public works projects during the Great Depression
• Projects included the construction of infrastructure, buildings, and public art

Wagner Act

• Enacted in 1935
• Also known as the National Labor Relations Act
• Guaranteed workers the right to organize unions and bargain collectively with their employers
• Established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to enforce these rights

Social Security Act (SSA)

• Landmark legislation enacted in 1935
• Created a social insurance system
• Provided old-age pensions, unemployment compensation, and benefits for families and individuals with disabilities

Welfare State

• A system in which the government plays a key role in protecting and promoting the economic and social well-being of its citizens
• Provides various social welfare programs, such as healthcare, education, and income support

Sit-Down Strikes

• Form of labor protest in which workers occupy their workplace but refuse to work
• Employed during the 1930s by labor unions, such as the United Auto Workers (UAW), to gain recognition and negotiate with employers

Court Packing Plan

• A controversial proposal by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937
• Sought to expand the size of the Supreme Court and appoint justices who were more supportive of his New Deal policies
• Faced significant opposition and was ultimately unsuccessful

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

• A committee of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Investigated allegations of subversive activities, particularly those associated with communism
• Conducted investigations and hearings that often targeted individuals and organizations suspected of having ties to communism during the Cold War era