Limits, Critics, Mistakes, Impact, & Enduring

Legacy

NEW DEAL

LimitsPrograms Failed To Bring The U.S. Out Of The Great Depression Some not as successful as people had hoped

Ex. - FLSA – only covered ¼ of workers, minimum wage lower than most covered

Women NRA – allowed lower wages for women for same job Most jobs went to men (type of work, “head of household”) Labor Protections did not extend to domestic jobs BUT 1st Female Cabinet Member

Secretary of Labor – Frances PerkinsAfrican Americans

Segregated public works, lower pay, no skilled jobs Last hired, first fired No anti-lynching laws passed

BUT did appoint more AAs to policy making posts than any President before him

Invited AA leaders to advise him First Lady outspoken on racial issues

CriticsPolitical Right –

conservative, preserve the current system or power structureND went too far,

FDR had too much power

Considered programs socialist / communist

SSA – penalized successful, hardworking people / #s seemed militaristic

Led by Alfred E. Smith (American Liberty League 1934)

ND was unconstitutional

Compulsory unemployment insurance – Socialist/Communist

Political Left – seek governmental change as means of helping the common peopleNew Deal – did not do

enoughIn favor of more

socialist type programs More gov’t

involvement Some called for

redistribution of income

Demagogues– charismatic leaders who manipulate people with half-truths, deceptive promises, and scare tactics

Examples - Coughlin/Long

Mistakes

“Roosevelt Recession” (1937)1933-1937

GNP ↑ 10%per year / Unemployment ↓ to 10% (from 25%)

FDR believed in balanced budget, reduces federal spending

WPA (main relief/recovery agency of 2nd ND) – cuts funding in ½

Social Security – started w/ less than promisedSent U.S. into a recession

Stock Market collapsedUnemployment jumps back up to 19%

Court-Packing Scheme (1937)FDR’s plan to add justices to the Supreme

CourtWhy? –

Striking down some programs as unconstitutional

Wanted to appoint justices who would support his plans

Impact

Cultural Life WPA

supported unemployed artists, musicians, historians, actors, and writers

Federal Music Project / Federal Theatre Project Careers

Started and helped careers of many famous writersEnvironment

CCC / Dust Bowl Continued work of TR – Conserved 12 million acres

Labor Movement CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) Wagner Act

Guaranteed collective bargaining but businesses did not have to accept the terms of the unions

Strikes – wave of strikes as a result Sit-down strikes – stopped working, refused to leave,

picket lines outside

LegacyDeficit Spending & National Debt

Set precedent for spending out of economic downturns

Enduring Programs FDIC, SEC, AAA, TVA Social Security – Foundation of Welfare State

Public Works Lasting monuments to the ND (Bridges, Dams,

Parks, Schools)Transformation of Democratic Party

New Deal Coalition – organized labor, African Americans and other ethnic groups, women, city-dwellers, middle-class

ALSO – Southern Democrats – FDR did not challenge the existing power structure in the South – needed their votes for programs

Expansion of the Federal Gov’t Regulation of the Economy Welfare & Social Security Role of the President