Chapter 34 The Great Depression

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Chapter 34 The Great Depression What was the
situation during the election of 1932? -11
million unemployed great poverty
nationwide -Democrats nominate NY governor
Franklin D. Roosevelt to face Hoover in
1932 Politician in a Wheelchair (Franklin Delano
Roosevelt FDR) What was FDRs background
nature? What did he promise? -was cocky
arrogant patrician (rich guy) until humbled by
paralysis -his greatest personal political
asset was his wife, Eleanor (his 5th cousin) -he
accepted the presidential nomination in person
promised sweeping reforms
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Presidential Hopefuls of 1932 What did FDR offer
voters AND who generated ideas for him? -FDR
offered vague promises to voters on campaign
trail (ideas generated by his Brains
Trust) Hoovers Humiliation in 1932 What was the
margin of victory AND what did Hoover do to FDR
in the transition? -FDR won electoral count
472-59 black voters shifted to Democratic party
(1st time since Lincoln) -Hoover admitted he
tried to tie FDR to bad economic policies during
lame duck period
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FDR the Three Rs Relief, Recovery and
Reform Describe FDRs immediate plans, the action
he took AND the timetable -FDR set out to end
immediate misery, bring the economy back and fix
itpermanently -FDR declared banking holiday so
banking system could regain citizens confidence
-the new President ordered Congress back to work
for a Hundred Days to enact all kinds of
reforms -New Dealers embraced unemployment
old age insurance, minimum wage conservation
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Roosevelt Tackles Money Banking Analyze the
Emergency Banking Relief Act, Glass-Steagall, how
FDR communicated and the topic of
inflation. -Emergency Banking Relief Act written
in 8 hours new power to President regulating
banks -Glass-Steagall Banking Reform Act helped
create FDIC (insured bank deposits) -FDR
announced new measures in the first of many
fireside chats via the radio -FDR wanted to
start inflation (increase value of the ) bought
up gold to start it
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Creating Jobs for the Jobless Describe the job
situation, the CCC, the AAA and the CWA -1/4 of
all workers unemployedor UNDER-employed (not
enough work to pay the bills) -CCC aimed at young
men put them to work on necessary conservation
projects some went home -AAA helped farmers
HOLC helped homeowners CWA put people on make
work projects
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A Day for Every Demagogue Describe 3 new voices
that talked about Americas problems -bad times
produce loud voices that blame defenseless groups
for a nations problems (Germany had Hitler the
Nazis to blame Jews Italy had Mussolini Black
Shirts) -Father Charles Coughlin used radio to
blame Jews the New Deal for Americas
misery -corrupt politician Huey Long promised
every citizen 5,000 to follow him ? one target
of attack was goofy projects of the WPA (though a
small number)
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A Helping Hand for Industry Labor Discuss the
NRA, Schecter and liquor -NRA was the most
far-reaching act of New Deal (helped industry,
labor unemployed) -NRA was radical
high-minded came under attack in the courts
(Schecter-vs-US shut it down) -taking steps to
legalizing liquor greatly helped the economy
(govt. collected taxes products sold) Paying
Farmers Not to Farm What did the AAA really do to
supply demand as well as land? -AAA created
artificial scarcity (stop the market from being
flooded by goods never bought up) -more effective
was acreage restrictions (farmers agreed to
limit how much was planted)
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Dust Bowls Black Blizzards What conditions
gripped the Plains? What was the story with
California? -drought hit the Plains in late 1933
topsoil flying around cause for the nickname The
Dust Bowl -iffy land brought into production dry
farming techniques made land vulnerable (no rain
didnt help) -many from OK AR moved to CA in
search of better living
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Battling Bankers Big Business What was the
purpose of the SEC? -public protected from
business fraud by SEC (Securities Exchange
Commission) TVA Harnesses TN River Describe the
various aspects of the TVA -New Deal gets
involved in public utility -Sen. Norris of NE is
the politician behind massive plan to bring
hydroelectric power to SE-US -huge project
creates jobs, brings massive improvement to
region, improves environment, too