📘CIVIL RIGHTS New Deal Flashcards
(11 cards)
The New Deal Era TIME PERIOD
(1933-1939)
SOCIAL Evidence Supporting Progress for Trade Unions and Workers
- Worker participation in unions increased dramatically, from approximately 3 million in 1932 to over
10 million by 1941 - The Congress of Industrial Organisations (CIO) successfully organized previously excluded industrial workers across racial and ethnic lines
- New Deal arts and culture programs employed thousands of writers, artists, and performers, validating working-class narratives and experiences
- Public works programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps provided meaningful work and training for unemployed youth
POLITICAL Evidence Supporting Progress for Trade Unions and Workers
- The National Labour Relations Act (1935) legally protected the right to organize and collectively bargain
- The creation of the National Labour Relations Board established formal procedures for union elections and addressing unfair labour practices
- Frances Perkins became the first female cabinet member as Secretary of Labour, bringing worker concerns to the highest levels of government
- Pro-labour politicians gained influence in Congress and state governments
ECONOMIC Evidence Supporting Progress for Trade Unions and Workers
- The Fair Labour Standards Act (1938) established the minimum wage (25 cents per hour) and limited the workweek to 40 hours
- The Social Security Act (1935) created unemployment insurance and old-age pensions
- The Works Progress Administration (WPA) employed approximately 8.5 million people on public works projects
- Average weekly manufacturing wages increased from $16.73 in 1933 to $24.05 by 1939
- Union contracts secured improved benefits and working conditions for millions of workers
SOCIAL Evidence Against Progress for Trade Unions and Workers
- African American, Latino, and female workers were often excluded from the most beneficial New Deal programs
- Anti-union violence continued in some industries, with the 1937 Memorial Day Massacre in Chicago resulting in 10 deaths when police fired on striking workers
- Regional disparities remained stark, with Southern workers receiving fewer benefits from New Deal programs
- Company towns and rural agricultural areas saw limited improvements in worker conditions
POLITICAL Evidence Against Progress for Trade Unions and Workers
- The Supreme Court struck down key early New Deal labour provisions, including the National Industrial Recovery Act in Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States (1935)
- Conservative coalition formed in Congress by 1938, blocking further pro-labour legislation
- Most anti-lynching legislation failed, leaving African American workers vulnerable in the South
- State-level implementation of New Deal programs often discriminated against minority workers
ECONOMIC Evidence Against Progress for Trade Unions and Workers
- Unemployment remained high throughout the period, with approximately 14% still unemployed by 1939
- Agricultural workers and domestic servants (predominantly women and minorities) were excluded
from most labour protections - Industrial wages, while improved, remained inadequate for many working-class families
- The 1937-1938 recession revealed continuing economic vulnerabilities for workers
Factors Advancing Trade Unions and Workers’ Rights
- The economic crisis discredited laissez-faire capitalism and created openness to government
intervention - Progressive intellectuals in the Roosevelt administration championed worker-friendly policies
- Mass mobilization of workers created political pressure for reform
- Electoral realignment brought labour-friendly Democratic majorities to Congress
- The threat of more radical alternatives motivated acceptance of moderate reforms
Factors Impeding Trade Unions and Workers’ Rights
- Business interests remained politically powerful and resisted many reforms
- Racial segregation and discrimination limited the inclusiveness of labour gains
- Persistent unemployment weakened workers bargaining position
- Regional economic disparities prevented uniform implementation of reforms
- Constitutional constraints limited federal authority to regulate labour conditions
Statistical Evidence
- Union membership increased from 3 million (11.6% of non-agricultural workforce) in 1933 to over 10 million (27%) by 1941
- The unemployment rate fell from 24.9% in 1933 to 14.3% by 1939
- Social Security initially covered approximately 60% of workers, excluding agricultural and domestic workers
- Federal spending on relief programs reached 5.9% of GDP at its peak
- The number of annual strikes increased from 1,856 in 1932 to 4,740 by 1937
Most Convincing View
The evidence supporting significant progress for workers and trade unions during the New Deal era is more
convincing, though important limitations existed. The period represented a transformative shift in American
labour relations that established enduring institutional protections for workers.
The New Deal fundamentally altered the relationship between government, capital, and labour by legally
recognizing workers’ right to organize and collectively bargain. This change in legal standing, coupled with the establishment of basic social welfare provisions and labour standards, created a framework that
allowed the labour movement to secure unprecedented gains in subsequent decades.
While exclusions and limitations meant that progress was uneven and incomplete—particularly for women,
minorities, and agricultural workers—the New Deal nonetheless established critical principles and
institutions that advanced worker interests. The dramatic increase in union membership, rising wages,
shorter working hours, and expanded safety net represented genuine material improvements for millions of
American workers.
Most importantly, the New Deal altered power relations in favour of labour, creating mechanisms through
which workers could legitimately challenge employer authority. This shift in the balance of power, though
partial, constituted a significant advancement compared to the overwhelming dominance of capital during
the Gilded Age.
