How Successful Was The New Deal?
Overview
When Franklin Roosevelt became president in March 1933, a quarter of American workers had no job, banks were collapsing and homeless families filled the shanty towns. Roosevelt promised a New Deal, and in his first hundred days he launched a flood of laws and agencies known by their initials, the famous 'alphabet agencies', to put people back to work and rebuild confidence.
Did it work? Some hailed Roosevelt as the saviour of capitalism; others attacked the New Deal as wasteful, dictatorial or not bold enough, and the Supreme Court struck parts of it down. This lesson weighs the achievements against the failures and asks the central question: how successful was the New Deal? The honest answer needs both sides and a clear judgement.
Objectives
- What was the New Deal as introduced in 1933?
- How far did the character of the New Deal change after 1933?
- Why did the New Deal encounter opposition?
- Why did unemployment persist despite the New Deal?
- Did the fact that the New Deal did not solve unemployment mean that it was a failure?
- The expansion of the US economy during the 1920s: - government policies - mass production in industries for cars and other consumer goods - the fortunes of older industries - the development of credit and hire purchase - the decline of agriculture
- Weaknesses in the economy by the late 1920s
- Society in the 1920s: - the ‘Roaring Twenties’ - film and other media - Prohibition and gangsterism - restrictions on immigration, the ‘Red Scare’, religious intolerance - discrimination against Black Americans - the Ku Klux Klan - the changing roles of women
- The Wall Street Crash and its financial, economic and social effects
- The reaction of President Hoover to the Crash
- The presidential election of 1932; Hoover’s and Roosevelt’s programmes
- Roosevelt’s inauguration and the ‘Hundred Days’
- The New Deal legislation, the ‘alphabet agencies’ and their work, and the economic and social changes they caused
- Opposition to the New Deal: - the Republicans - the rich - business interests - the Supreme Court - radical critics like Huey Long
- The strengths and weaknesses of the New Deal programme in dealing with unemployment and the Depression
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on How Successful Was The New Deal?. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- The 'Hundred Days' refers to: A. The length of the Wall Street Crash B. Roosevelt's first burst of New Deal laws in 1933 C. The duration of Prohibition D. The Bonus March Answer: B
- Which agency built dams to provide electricity and jobs in a poor region? A. CCC B. AAA C. TVA D. WPA Answer: C
- The Social Security Act of 1935 introduced: A. Prohibition B. Pensions and unemployment insurance C. Import tariffs D. The bank holiday Answer: B
- In the 1935 Schechter 'sick chicken' case the Supreme Court struck down the: A. AAA B. TVA C. NRA D. CCC Answer: C
- What finally ended mass unemployment in the USA? A. The First New Deal B. The Second New Deal C. The Second World War D. The repeal of Prohibition Answer: C
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
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