Getting out of depression

The Great Depression

1929-1939

Getting out of the Depression

Frances PerkinsSec. of Labor

Eleanor Roosevelt

A woman is like a tea bag- you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.

Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself. I could not at any age

be content to take my place in a corner by the fireside and simply look on.

Fireside Chats

F. D. Roosevelt:

“You have nothing to fear,

except fear itself”

The The FirstFirst

1. ReliefImmediate action to halt economy’s

deterioration

2. Recovery"Pump - Priming“: Temporary

programs to restart flow of consumer demand & offer jobs

3. ReformPermanent programs to avoid another

depression & insure citizens against economic disasters

Workers organize to better conditionsFirst strike 1877: Railroad

• American Federation of Labor (skilled/craft)

• Formed by Samuel Gompers• Used collective bargaining

• Industrial Workers of the World (“unskilled”)

• Created by radical unionists and socialists

Renewed interest in UNIONS and collective bargaining

In three years, 577 often violent strikes

STEEL, AUTO, RUBBER industries

Social Security – gone by 2041

Distributes $ from poor to non-poor–Poorer generally start working earlier…

–Poorer generally die earlier…

Where did the U.S. get all Where did the U.S. get all the billions of dollars to the billions of dollars to

carry people out of carry people out of the Great Depression? the Great Depression?

Where did the U.S. get all Where did the U.S. get all the billions of dollars to the billions of dollars to

carry people out of carry people out of the Great Depression? the Great Depression?

• Bank Holiday

• Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA)

• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

• Civilian Works Administration (CWA & PWA)

RELIEF Legislation

• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

• Works Progress Administration (WPA)

• National Recovery Act (NRA)

• Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)

RECOVERY Legislation

• Security & Exchange Commission (SEC)

• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

• National Labor Relations Act / Board (NLRA/B)

• Social Security (SS)

REFORM Legislation

Senator Huey Long (La.)“Share Our Wealth”

- Socialist - FDR “too easy on rich”- Money spent on public works- Guaranteed $5,000 to all- Take millionaire’s $ and divide- Everyone gets car, house, radio- “Every Man A King, but no one wears

a crown”- Shot and killed in 1935

Father Charles Coughlin- More economic & political

talks on radio than religious- FDR “too friendly to bankers”- Economic reform =

anti-comm. & anti-capit.- Supported fascism- Anti-semitic - Isolationist- Silenced

UnconstitutionalState

Gov’t toRegulateIntrastateBusiness…

Hurt small business

CongressCan’t

RegulateAgr

Court PackingChanging the Supreme Court…. WHY???

FDR’s LegacyPROS

- Unemploy. decreased

- Increased income- Preserved resources- Cushion for

elderly/sick- Supported unions- Ensured bank safety

CONS- National debt

increased- Doubled fed.

Bureaucracy- Didn’t increase

small business activity

FDR’s Legacy

Set a precedent that the federal government is

responsible for the economic welfare

of the people