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| | == FDR, the New Deal, and Preparing for War == | | == FDR, the New Deal, and Preparing for War == |
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| − | 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). | + | We have learned that failures in the economy often determine the outcome in the 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. | | 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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| | *Civilian Conservation Corps, which provided jobs to men between 17 and 25 for the conservation of natural resources | | *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 | | *Agricultural Adjustment Act, which tried to raise prices and limit farm production by paying farmers not to farm land; this was later declared unconstitutional |
| | + | *Federal Emergency Relief Act, which provided work on projects such as building roads, airports, schools, playgrounds and parks |
| | + | *Tennessee Valley Act, which bought, built and operated dams, generated & sold electric power, provided flood control, and withdrew bad land from farming; it also set up the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and used its power rates to regulate private rates, which interfered with free enterprise |
| | + | *Farm-Credit Act, which provided funding for farm mortgages |
| | + | *Glass-Steagall Banking Act, which established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) to insure deposits in banks in order to stabilize the banking system |
| | + | *National Industrial Recovery Act, which created the public works administration, defined fair business practices; this was held unconstitutional in ''Schecter Poultry v. U.S.'' |
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| | + | The above series of laws constituted the most sweeping change in the nature of government in America since the passage of the Constitution. President Roosevelt quickly gave the federal (national) government vast new powers, and established an "administrative" form of government that continues to rule many industries to this day. Gone forever with this legislation was the free enterprise of the "Era of Good Feelings," the Gilded Age, and the "Roaring Twenties." |
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| | + | As you can see, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a few key aspects of the New Deal, and this infuriated President Roosevelt. We'll mention this again later. |
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| − | Federal Emergency Relief Act "1933: provided work on projects such as building roads, airports, schools, playgrounds, parks"
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| − | Tennessee Valley Act "1933: bought, built & operated dams, generated & sold electric power, flood contr., w/drew bad land from farming"
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| − | set up Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and used its power rates to regulate private rates (controversial)
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| − | Farm-Credit Act 1933: provided funding for farm mortgages
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| − | Glass-Steagall Banking Act "1933: estab. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) to insure deposits in banks, thereby stabilizing system"
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| − | National Industrial Recovery Act "1933: made public works administration., defined fair business practices, held unconstitut. in Schecter Poultry v. U.S."
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| | 21st Amendment "1933: repeals Prohibition, gives power to States to regulate or prohibit alcohol" | | 21st Amendment "1933: repeals Prohibition, gives power to States to regulate or prohibit alcohol" |
| | Good Neighbor Policy "1933: FDR policy of respect for Latin America, unlike Teddy Roosevelt's ""Big Stick"" and Taft's ""Dollar Diplomacy""" | | Good Neighbor Policy "1933: FDR policy of respect for Latin America, unlike Teddy Roosevelt's ""Big Stick"" and Taft's ""Dollar Diplomacy""" |
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| | 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. | + | The New Deal did '''not''' help lift the nation out of the Great Depression. 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. | | 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"
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| − | Selective Training & Service Act 1940: first adoption of peacetime conscription (draft)
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| − | Four Freedoms "1941: FDR in annual speech to Cong urges freedom of speech, worship, from want, from fear"
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| − | Lend-Lease Act "1941: FDR's first step to save Britain & Allies in WWII by lending them materials, ending neutrality"
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| − | Atlantic Charter "July 1941: FDR and Churchill declare purpose to WWII, based on world peace, like 14 points in WWI"
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| − | U-Boats German submarines in WWII that sunk ships
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| | == World War II == | | == World War II == |