The Great Depression & The New Deal
1929-1939
Opponents of the New Deal
- Socialists and extreme liberals in the democratic party criticized the New Deal.
- Those who attacked the New Deal for giving the federal government too much power charged that relief programs such as WPA and Wagner Act bordered on socialism or even communism.
- Several critics used radio to reach a mass audience to propose simplistic schemes for ending "evil conspiracies"
- President Roosevelt did not have an opportunity to appoint any justices to the Supreme Court during his first term.
The New Deal for Dummies: FDR's Alphabet Agencies -- US History Review
Rise of the Unions
- The leader of the industrial unions ( Committee of Industrial Organizations ) was John L.Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers union.
- Strikes were a frequent occurrence in the depression decade
- Fair labor standards act included a min wage that was initially fixed at 40 cents an hour, a max workweek of 40 hours and time and a half for overtime, and child-labor restrictions on those under 16
The Rise of Unions!
John L. Lewis, President of the United Mine Workers union
Working Strikes !
Work or RIOT !!
Last Phase of the New Deal
- From 1933 to 1937, the economy showed signs of gradually pulling out of its nosedive.
- Beginning in 1938, fears about the aggressive acts of Nazi Germany diverted attention from domestic concerns toward foreign affairs.
APUSH: The Great Depression and the New Deal, Part 2
Life During the Depression
- during the depression added stress were placed upon the family as unemployed fathers searched for work, and declining incomes presented severe challenges for mothers
- A severe drought in the early 1930's ruined crops in the Great Plains.
- African Americans unemployment rate was higher than the national average.
- John Collier established conservation and CCC projects on reservations and gained Native American involvement in the WPA.
- Mexican Americans also suffered from discriminatory practices in the 1930's
Stories from the Great Depression