New Deal Agencies

Question 1

AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Administration) & Boost farm prices by reducing surpluses through subsidies and crop reduction

Answer 1

Harmed African Americans: Displaced 20&000 Black sharecroppers and tenant farmers (1933–1940). Discrimination in compensation distribution& landowners abused power to evict Black workers. Crop reduction policies worsened economic hardship for Black farmers. Mechanization reduced job opportunities.

Question 2

CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) & Provide employment and environmental conservation work for young men

Answer 2

Helped African Americans: Employed 200&000 Black Americans (1933–1942). Harmed African Americans: Underrepresentation (only 5% of workers in 1933 were Black& despite higher Black populations in some areas). Racist leadership (Director Robert Fechner).

Question 3

NRA (National Recovery Administration) & Stabilize wages/prices and improve labor standards through industry codes

Answer 3

Harmed African Americans: Excluded agriculture/domestic work (sectors dominated by Black workers). Lower minimum wages for Black workers.

Question 4

PWA (Public Works Administration) & Fund large-scale public construction projects to create jobs

Answer 4

Helped African Americans: $3.3 billion allocated& Black workers gained jobs in construction (e.g.& hospitals& roads). Equal pay policies and racial quotas (by 1940& Black Americans held 1/3 of housing units).

Question 5

WPA (Works Progress Administration) & Create jobs through public works and cultural programs

Answer 5

Helped African Americans: Employed 350&000 Black workers annually (1936–1940). Fair wages& racial quotas (Black employment rose from 8% to 15%). Education programs (5&000 Black teachers taught 250&000 literacy students).

Question 6

NYA (National Youth Administration) & Provide job training and aid to unemployed youth

Answer 6

Helped African Americans: Trained 500&000 Black youths (40% of whom were unemployed). Funded Black schools equitably.

Question 7

FERA (Federal Emergency Relief Administration) & Provide direct relief (cash/food) to unemployed families

Answer 7

Helped African Americans: 25% of Black population received aid (e.g.& 40% in Philadelphia& where Black Americans were 13% of the population). Harmed African Americans: Initial exclusions& racial disparities in aid (e.g.& Atlanta: $35 for whites vs. $19 for Black recipients).

Question 8

Social Security Act (Social Security Act) & Establish federal welfare (pensions& unemployment insurance)

Answer 8

Harmed African Americans: Excluded domestic/agricultural workers (65% of Black workers). Low benefit caps ($85/month pensions& $18/week unemployment). No healthcare coverage.

Question 9

Wagner Act (Wagner Act) & Protect workers’ rights to unionize and bargain collectively

Answer 9

Helped African Americans: CIO unions actively recruited Black members (e.g.& BSCP union had 25&000 Black members). Harmed African Americans: Excluded domestic/agricultural workers. No anti-discrimination clause& 19 major unions barred Black members.

Question 10

FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) & Establish minimum wage/maximum hours

Answer 10

Helped African Americans: Raised wages for 300&000 Black workers& reduced hours for 1.3 million. Harmed African Americans: Excluded domestic/agricultural workers.

Question 11

TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) & Develop the Tennessee Valley via infrastructure/jobs

Answer 11

Harmed African Americans: Segregated housing/jobs& Black workers limited to unskilled labor.

Question 12

FHA & Wagner-Steagall (FHA & Wagner-Steagall Housing Act) & Fund public housing and mortgages to replace slums

Answer 12

Harmed African Americans: Mortgage discrimination (“redlining”) barred Black families from white neighborhoods. Reinforced urban segregation.