FDR's First Hundred Days
Emergency Powers
'I shall not evade the clear course of duty that will confront me. I shall ask the Congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis- broad Executive Power to wage a war against the crisis.' Many Americans saw this as too dictatorial, and saw that Roosevelt was prepared to sidestep the separation of powers system: FDR could bypass any opposition in Congress with broad executive powers, and therefore legislate independently. Some policies of FDR were also deemed to be showing signs of socialist tendencies - perhaps through policies that provided federal relief to the poor, and those which regulated markets.
The New Deal
4th March 1933 - President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's plan of action to stabilise the economy and put Americans to work announced during his inaugural address *3 main areas: Relief, Recovery, Reform
First Hundred Days Begin
5th March 1933 - FDR calls for bank holiday; banks are closed for four days 9th March 1933 - FDR calls Congress into session
Roosevelt & the Media
FDR charmed the media and held press conferences twice a week. Unlike previous Presidents, FDR held unscripted interviews and clearly explained policies to the press. Though he won over the press and therefore decreased the level of criticism against him, he tended to prevaricate when answering questions.
Relief Legislation
Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA) - $3m in cash payments to 8m families below the breadline Civilian Work Administration (CWA) - Temporary jobs in manual labour, building 225,000miles road, 36,000 schools, and 3,700 recreation grounds Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) - 'People's army' of unemployed, unmarried men who conserved soil, reforested areas and built over 800 parks Homeowners Refinancing Act - Provided mortgage assistance to those in danger of having their home repossessed
Reform Legislation
Federal Securities Act - Regulated the sale of securities to reduce the chances of a future market crash, in response to the Wall Street crash of 1929 National Employment Systems Act - Set up the United States Employment service to coordinate public employment Glass-Steagall Act (GSA) - Divided commercial and investment banking to reduce the involvement of banks in investing - something which was believed to have initially caused the crash Truth in Securities Act - Combated fraud in the stock markets and required companies to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission to bring about greater transparency
Opposition & Criticism
From the Left - Calls for distribution of wealth, and to end poverty in California, where menial labourers struggled to find work, through greater federal intervention. From the Right - Rhetoric that economy should be allowed to settle itself, no intervention required by the government. -> From within - conservative Democrats establish the American Liberty League, including Democrats and some Republicans opposed to the New Deal (and Prohibition, which FDR repealed). It is often said that Congress were responsible for the wide range of legislation passed during the first hundred days, not FDR.
Fireside Chats
He also reached out to the public in what became known as fireside chats (his first on 12th March) - though he was instead sat behind a White House desk - that were broadcast on radio. He opened speeches with 'My friends' and used direct address to engage with his audience, often explaining to them and reassuring them of the government's activity and the legislation passed. He always ended by referring to God - he would subsequently appear to be honest and trustworthy. Every letter sent to Roosevelt by the public was responded to; these were the signs of an engaging and reliable President who valued the citizens he governed.
Recovery Legislation
National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) - Authorised FDR to regulate industry to combat deflation Public Works Administration (PWA) - Gave loans to private industry for the construction of hospitals, airports, dams, powerplants etc Emergency Banking Relief Act (EBRA) - Prompted the four day bank holiday during which banks were inspected Economy Act - Saved $1bn by cutting government departmental spending by 25% and government workers'/armed forces' wages by 15% Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) - Paid farmers subsidies to reduced production in order to raise the value of crops Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) - Built dams to generate hydroelectric power in the Tennessee Valley National Recovery Association (NRA) - Brought industry, labour and government together to create codes of "fair practices" and set prices
3 R's
RELIEF - Provide federal payments to the unemployed so that they can afford necessities and put people to work RECOVERY - Fix the economy in the short term REFORM - Legislation passed to stabilise the economy in the long term and prevent future Depressions
