Political Environment 1933-45 Flashcards
Intentions of the New Deal
Federal govt and president would save from disaster
Asked government for special powers to deal with economic disaster
Promised to balance budget- found govt help more important
Govt responsible for welfare
Drawbacks of the New Deal
Relief they offered was the minimum
Tests were so demeaning often people chose not to take them
Federal government took over decision making that was constitutionally meant to be made by states
The National Recovery Administration (NRA)
Set up and enforced codes of practice for businesses
Setting working hours and a minimum wage
The Agricultural Adjustment Agency (AAA)
Regulated major crops
Bought up surplus crops and subsidised farmers
How did the presidency change?
Confident and charming
Prepared to work with anyone
Great communicator and determined to restore confidence
Inaugural speech: ‘the only thing we have to fear is fear itself’
Understood how to manipulate congress
Increasing importance of the presidency
More WH staff
Used presidential executive orders when congress weren’t compliant
More concerned with general policy over detail
Some economic measures created inflation while others had deflationary effects
How did Roosevelt manage people?
Series of radio broadcasts ‘fireside chats’
‘Off the record’ press meetings twice a week
Roosevelt’s unpopularity
Wealthy business people disliked his policies
Republicans didn’t like the enlargement of presidency
Supreme Court begun to rule against federal agencies and laws as unconstitutional
Forced to abandon proposal to ‘pack’ the court with his supporters
Legacy of Roosevelt
President expected to be involved in the forming of policy and legislation
WH had more federal boards and committees
WH expected to tell media and public about policy
Responsible for welfare
Impact of the Second World War
As much as the new deal, hauled USA out of Depression
Roosevelt geared up US for war production
War production boosted industry and farming, led to significant rise in employment
Farmers grew more food, factories churned out more weapons and ammunition
Franklin D Roosevelt
1933-45
Democrat
