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| | == FDR, the New Deal, and Preparing for War == | | == FDR, the New Deal, and Preparing for War == |
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| − | The economy improved a little from 1933 to 1940, but the depression never really ended. In 1937, FDR became so frustrated with the Supreme Court’s invalidation of his New Deal programs that he proposed his “court-packing” scheme to appoint new Justices to the Supreme Court who would be favorable to him. Even members of FDR’s own Democratic Party opposed this violation of the checks and balances in the Constitution, and FDR lost much of his credibility. He weakened himself with this proposal, which never passed.
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| − | The only end to the Great Depression was going to be our entry into war: World War II. | + | We have learned that failures in the economy often determine the outcome in teh presidential election, as in 2008. The presidential election in 1932 was no different: the Great Depression resulted in a complete transfer from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party, and Democratic Party candidate Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the election. He took his victory as a "mandate" to enact sweeping new legislation in order to lift the country out of the depression. In a nutshell, President Roosevelt (who is often called simply "FDR") started massive federal works and relief programs, and refused to let retire from the presidency after two terms as every other president did (beginning with George Washington). |
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| | + | President Roosevelt's program became known as the "New Deal," a term that is synonymous with expanded government programs supposedly to help the economy and the unemployed. The New Deal consists of new laws (legislation) and gave jobs to people. Critics of the New Deal point out that if the jobs were really needed, then free enterprise (private companies) would be doing it already. |
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| | + | President Roosevelt seized the initiative by trying to pass as much as possible through Congress in his first 100 days in office in 1933, when public support for change was the highest. This is known as the "Hundred Days," when FDR ended the gold standard (and thereby caused inflation) and called for a nationwide banking holiday (to stop the withdrawal of money from banks). |
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| | + | Other programs pushed through quickly by FDR in 1933 included: |
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| | + | *Emergency Banking Act, which allowed inspection of bank records, established a "bank holiday," and infused money into banks with Reconstruction Finance Corp. |
| | + | *Civilian Conservation Corps, which provided jobs to men between 17 and 25 for the conservation of natural resources |
| | + | *Agricultural Adjustment Act, which tried to raise prices and limit farm production by paying farmers not to farm land; this was later declared unconstitutional |
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| − | Franklin Delano Roosevelt Dem. Pres. 1932-45: started massive federal works and relief programs
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| − | New Deal Numerous new laws (legislation) to build projects and give jobs to people
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| − | """Hundred Days""" "1933: FDR's initial programs, incl. nationwide banking holiday, ended Gold Std (thereby causing inflation)"
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| − | Emergency Banking Act "1933: allowed inspection of bank records; made ""bank holiday"", infuse money into bank with Reconstr. Finan. Corp."
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| − | Civilian Conservation Corps 1933: provided jobs to men between 17 and 25 for conservation of natural resources
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| − | Agricultural Adjustment Act 1933: tried to raise prices and limit farm production by paying farmers not to farm land; declared unconstitutional
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| | Federal Emergency Relief Act "1933: provided work on projects such as building roads, airports, schools, playgrounds, parks" | | Federal Emergency Relief Act "1933: provided work on projects such as building roads, airports, schools, playgrounds, parks" |
| | Tennessee Valley Act "1933: bought, built & operated dams, generated & sold electric power, flood contr., w/drew bad land from farming" | | Tennessee Valley Act "1933: bought, built & operated dams, generated & sold electric power, flood contr., w/drew bad land from farming" |
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| | Trade Agreements Act 1934: amended the Tariff Act of 1930 (Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act) to give authority to negotiate mutual tariff reductions | | Trade Agreements Act 1934: amended the Tariff Act of 1930 (Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act) to give authority to negotiate mutual tariff reductions |
| | Neutrality Act 1935: forbids sale of arms to all belligerents if Pres. says a state of war exists; designed to keep us at peace | | Neutrality Act 1935: forbids sale of arms to all belligerents if Pres. says a state of war exists; designed to keep us at peace |
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| | + | The economy improved a little from 1933 to 1940, but the depression never really ended. In 1937, FDR became so frustrated with the Supreme Court’s invalidation of his New Deal programs that he proposed his “court-packing” scheme to appoint new Justices to the Supreme Court who would be favorable to him. Even members of FDR’s own Democratic Party opposed this violation of the checks and balances in the Constitution, and FDR lost much of his credibility. He weakened himself with this proposal, which never passed. |
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| | + | The only end to the Great Depression was going to be our entry into war: World War II. |
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| | Pennsylvania Turnpike "1940: the first multi-laned superhighway was built, with support from the federal government; heavily used even now" | | Pennsylvania Turnpike "1940: the first multi-laned superhighway was built, with support from the federal government; heavily used even now" |
| | Selective Training & Service Act 1940: first adoption of peacetime conscription (draft) | | Selective Training & Service Act 1940: first adoption of peacetime conscription (draft) |