FDR's+Radio+Address+detailing+Second+Half+of+New+Deal,+1946

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FDR's Radio Address detailing Second Half of New Deal

TIMES/ISSUES THAT GAVE CAUSE TO DOCUMENT

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Franklin D. Roosevelt developed the New Deal in order to furnish relief for the unemployed, and help in the recovery of the economy. When Roosevelt came into office, the nation was deeply troubled. No one could receive a bank loan, unemployment rate was 25% and higher in major industrial and mining centers, agricultural sector was possibly in worse shape than the industrial sector, farmers were having difficulties selling their products, and part of the country known as the dust bowl was experiencing a long lasting drought. On top of that, mortgages were being foreclosed by tens of thousands. After the stock market crash Roosevelt realized the old laissez faire policies of government would have to be adjusted. The government would now have to get involved in order to aid the economy in order to achieve a better economic state. Under the first and second parts of the New Deal, Roosevelt created many agencies such as the National Recovery Administration, and the Works Project Administration in order to reform economic banking systems. He also developed many other programs such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as many others. The recovery of the economy wasn’t completed until World War II, but these programs helped the economy tremendously, and still do so today. The "First New Deal" of 1933 was aimed at short-term relief programs for all groups. The Roosevelt administration promoted or implemented banking reform laws, work relief programs, agricultural programs, and industrial reform (the National Recovery Administration, NRA), and the end of the gold standard and Prohibition. A "Second New Deal" (1935–1938) included labor union support, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) relief program, the Social Security Act, and programs to aid the agricultural sector, including tenant farmers and migrant workers. The Supreme Court ruled several programs unconstitutional; however, most were soon replaced, with the exception of the NRA. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 was the last major program launched, which set maximum hours and minimum wages for most categories of workers.

HISTORY OF DOCUMENT/BACKGROUND/ORIGINS

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in 1882 to a rich and prestigious family in Hyde Park, New York. He had no siblings and was the only child of James and Sara Roosevelt. Despite being brought up in a rich family, FDR was taught that being rich brought with it the responsibility of helping those less fortunate. Franklin Roosevelt, defeated President Herbert Hoover, and was first elected president in 1932 at the age of fifty-one. The United States was suffering through a terrible economic depression at the time of his election. The crash of the U.S. stock market occurred in 1929; then, after "Black Tuesday" the stock market fell even more than it had the week before. These events were the catalyst of a worldwide economic depression. Deflation of currency values occurred which caused the repayments of debts to become much more arduous. The mining, lumber, and agriculture industries were hit the hardest by the drop in values. About twenty-five percent of American workers had lost their jobs. Many Americans had no source of income, no means of support and were unable to feed their families and had essentially lost all hope. Americans did not know if the new president could end the economic crisis that they were suffering, although FDR promised the people that he would end the Depression. He introduced “The New Deal,” which enforced non laissez faire policies. This intrusion from the government upset big businesses and radicals such as Huey Long, who doubted FDR’s approach to deal with the depression. Due to controversies over the first part of the New Deal, FDR introduced a second part to the New Deal.

CONTROVERSIES OF DOCUMENT

FDR felt that the federal government should take an active part in creating jobs and he developed the program called "The New Deal." The first days of Roosevelt's administration saw the passage of banking reform laws, relief programs and agricultural programs. The National Recovery Administration allowed companies to increase their production. The Works Progress Administration provided jobs for unemployed people. The Civilian Conservation Corp enabled men to work with protected natural resources. The Tennessee Valley Authority built dams, dealt with river problems and helped to provide electricity to various parts of the county.

The majority of Americans believed FDR was attempting to help the country and provide for the common people. But FDR had many opponents as well. Some people felt that he was giving the federal government too much power and ruining private businesses. Roosevelt introduced higher taxes for the rich and the rich people felt that he had betrayed them. Other opponents felt that Roosevelt was not abiding the rules of the Constitution. The Supreme Court felt that Roosevelt was imposing the power of the federal government over state governments.

Some people felt that what Roosevelt was recommending in the New Deal was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court felt that the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) was unconstitutional. The court felt that any help to the farmers should come at a state level and not federal level and these parts of the New Deal went against the powers given to the states by the Constitution. Eleven of the sixteen the Alphabet Laws were decreed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court felt that Roosevelt was imposing the power of the federal government over state governments. The federal government did not have the right to impose its decisions onto the states.

Huey Long, a Senator from Louisiana felt that Roosevelt was not doing enough for the poor. Long promised to confiscate any personal fortune over $3 million and that he would use the money to give each family in America between $4,000 and $5,000 so that they could buy a home and car. He also promised a national minimum wage, old age pensions and cheap food for the poor. He also promised to make all education free in America. He wanted to grant a moratorium on all debts which people owe that they could not pay.

After the First New Deal, Roosevelt made a Radio Address unveiling the second half of the New Deal, in response to criticism of the first half. Many people felt that the New Deal did not do enough by emphasizing the continuation of plans for recover, reform, and relief. The second New Deal included union protection programs, the Social Security Act which helped to provide money for workers when they retire, and programs to aid tenant farmers and migrant workers.

Roosevelt was viewed by some people to be a dictator. He supported federal government making some of the decisions that were the rights of the states. He was the first and only President to ignore Washington's self imposed 2 term limit, all others respected that tradition. Because of him, we had to change the Constitution. After the Supreme Court started over turning one program after another as unconstitutional, he tried to increase the number of Justices on the Court so that he could appoint enough Justices that would be supportive of his policies. Some of these decisions were felt to be consistent with a dictatorship. While the First New Deal had support from most sectors, the second half of the New Deal challenged the business community. The American Liberty League consisted of Conservative Democrats that fought back by attacking Roosevelt and equating him with Marx and Lenin- two dictators from the past.

Franklin Roosevelt became one of the most loved and most hated presidents in the history of the country. The majority of Americans believed he was trying to save the country and protect common people. Opponents charged he was giving the federal government too much power and destroying private businesses. The wealthy people were not happy with the taxes and felt that the federal government was imposing their power over the states. The New Deal did eventually improve the lives of people suffering from the events of the depression, despite the opposition of some Americans. The programs set forth by the New Deal eventually resulted in the federal government playing a key role in the economic and social affairs of the United States. SIGNIFICANCE

This document is extremely important to American history. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies contributed to the recovery of the economy during the Depression, and are still used to this day. His programs of relief, recovery, and reform were greatly needed by the Americans during the time period of the Depression- especially the unemployed. His radio talks presented his ideas to the public and made it easy for everyone to understand. FDR’s New Deal gave people the hope they needed and helped restore the publics’ trust in banking systems. Without his policies we would have been stuck in an economic downfall for much longer than we did. His ideas didn’t just fix the immediate causes, but they also insured future long term fixes of the flaws, especially in regard to the financial and banking systems.

SCALE OF 100-1

With 1 being the most important, I would have to say that this document belongs at number 10 on a scale of 1-100. The New Deal was extremely significant to America’s recovery during harsh economic times, but there are many other documents that need to be recognized before this program. The Constitution and the Voting and the Civil Rights Acts, plus many other documents are more important when compared to the importance of the New Deal. The Constitution set the ground work for all future laws and rules which today are still enforced. Voting and Civil rights led to equality amongst all people which I feel is of extreme importance in a democratic society. President Obama is learning much about FDR’s policies during our present recession and utilizing many of his actions in order to help correct our present economic difficulties, therefore stressing the importance of the New Deal.

COMPARE/CONTRAST In 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was signed, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization. This document was created in order to save succeeding generations from war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind. It also reaffirmed faith in fundamental human rights, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small. It also serves to promote social progress and better standards of life, to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, that armed force will not be used. This document established an international organization known as the United Nations.

This Charter is similar to the New Deal that President FDR formed. Both documents were formed in order to help keep tranquility in America. The Charter of the UN serves to make sure there is not another world war, and the New Deal programs serve to make sure that there is never another depression as bad as the Great Depression. They both serve to protect the citizens of the U.S. In addition, both documents derived from a crises that needed a resolution. The UN Charter formed as a result of the two world wars-the document ensures that another world war will not occur- and the New Deal programs served to deal with the issues regarding the economic crises during the Depression. They are also linked by the fact that both formed groups. For example the Charter of the UN formed the United Nations, and the New Deal formed programs such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

These documents also contrast. The UN protects against war and the New Deal served to protect against an economic crises. The New Deal was not a document nor a charter unlike the Charter of the United Nations. Roosevelt created the New Deal, while the Charter of the UN involved many nations. The New Deal only insures peace upon Americans, where the Charter provides an insurance of peace with other nations as well.

”My money has been taken… No more Laissez Faire.”