The new deal flashcards

Question 1

What were the aims of Roosevelt’s New Deal?

Answer 1

1. Get Americans back to work.
2. Protect savings and property.
3. Provide relief for sick, old and unemployed.
4. Get U.S. industry and agriculture back on its feet.

Question 2

What was the first issue Roosevelt tackled?

Answer 2

The banking crisis and the loss of confidence in banks

Question 3

When did Roosevelt order all of the banks to close?

Answer 3

The day after his inauguration (5 March 1933)

Question 4

What was the name of the policy to tackle the banking crisis?

Answer 4

Emergency Banking Act

Question 5

What happened while the banks were closed for four days?

Answer 5

The banks were checked by government officials.

Question 6

What happened to the banks on 9 March 1933?

Answer 6

5,000 trustworthy banks were opened, supported by government money if necessary.

Question 7

What was the name of the agency set up to help the urgent needs of the poor?

Answer 7

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration

Question 8

How much did FERA spend on helping the poor?

Answer 8

$500 million

Question 9

What did FERA provide for the poor?

Answer 9

Soup kitchens, blankets, employment schemes and nursery schools

Question 10

What did the CCC stand for?

Answer 10

Civilian Conservation Corps

Question 11

What did the CCC do?

Answer 11

Provided work for unemployed young men on environmental projects

Question 12

What kind of work did the CCC do?

Answer 12

Strengthening river banks, fighting forest fires, controlling mosquitoes to prevent malaria, etc.

Question 13

How long could men sign on to the CCC for?

Answer 13

6 months, but could renew if still had no job

Question 14

How many people did the CCC provide jobs for?

Answer 14

2.5 million

Question 15

What was a major criticism of the CCC?

Answer 15

It paid very low wages

Question 16

What agency was set up to help farmers?

Answer 16

The Agricultural Adjustment Administration

Question 17

How did the AAA help farmers?

Answer 17

1. Set quotas to reduce farm production and force prices upwards.
2. Government destroyed surplus produce and gave farmers compensation for lost production.
3. Helped farmers modernise and use methods that would protect the soil.
4. Helped some farmers pay their mortgages.

Question 18

What problem did the AAA create?

Answer 18

Farm modernisation (e.g. more advanced machinery machinery) put more farm workers out of work.

Question 19

Which two organisations were set up by the National Industrial Recovery Act?

Answer 19

1. Public Works Administration

2. National Recovery Administration

Question 20

What did the PWA do?

Answer 20

Used government money to build schools, roads, dams, bridges and airports.

Question 21

What did the NRA do?

Answer 21

Improved working conditions in industry (e.g. outlawing child labour, set fair wages). Businesses could choose to join.

Question 22

How did businesses show they had signed up to the NRA?

Answer 22

They could use the blue eagle as a symbol of presidential approval.

Question 23

How many employers joined the NRA?

Answer 23

Over 2 million

Question 24

How did the Home Owners Loan Corporation help Americans?

Answer 24

Took over the mortgages of middle-income Americans who were struggling to pay mortgages, so banks didn’t repossess their homes

Question 25

How many Americans were helped by the Home Owners Loan Corporation?

Answer 25

HOLC took over 1 million mortgages at better interest rates than banks (people were paying less interest on their loans).

1933-36: 20% of homeowners were “rescued” by HOLC.

Question 26

Why was the Tennessee Valley Authority created?

Answer 26

Tennessee Valley flooded during wet season, and farming land turned into a dust bowl during dry season. TVA set up to combat these problems.

Question 27

What was the main work of the TVA?

Answer 27

Built dams on the Tennessee River; irrigated dried-out land; provided electricity and jobs for the area.

Question 28

What were Roosevelt’s “fireside chats”?

Answer 28

Radio broadcasts where Roosevelt would explain to the nation what he was doing and why.

Question 29

When and how often were Roosevelt’s “fireside chats”?

Answer 29

Every Sunday.

Question 30

How many Americans tuned into Roosevelt’s “fireside chats”?

Answer 30

60 million