Great Depression/New Deal Review

2A - What is a defining characteristic of the United States in the 1930s?

An extended period of economic depression

25D - ____________ was more involved in the minds and hearts and aspirations of people than any other First Lady in history. By the end of her life she was one of the most esteemed women in the world. During her 12 years in the White House she was sometimes laughed at and sometimes bitterly resented. But during her last years she became the object of almost universal respect. . . . She was hailed by countless numbers as their personal champion in a world first depression-ridden, then war-torn and finally maladjusted in the postwar years. She was a symbol of the new role women were to play in the world. As a result of her work in the United Nations, particularly in behalf of the little peoples of the world, this esteem soon transcended national barriers to become virtually worldwide. . . . —New York Times, November 8, 1962 Who is described in the obituary above?

Eleanor Roosevelt. The clue here is the 12 years she was in the white house because her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to a total of four terms.

16D - "In the 1936 movie Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, a man named Longfellow Deeds inherits millions of dollars and moves to New York City, where he is caught up in the "fast life." During this time, he is confronted by a farmer who criticizes Mr. Deeds for squandering his money. Moved by the farmer's plight, Mr. Deeds distributes his fortune to needy farmers and their families." The farmer's criticisms are similar to those found in —

Huey Long's proposal to "share our wealth". Huey Long is the Louisiana Governor who believed in disturbing wealth from extremely wealth to the poor in an effort to end poverty.

16B - Smoot-Hawley Tariff purpose was to protect U.S. Agriculture and business from foreign competition but the outcome of this tariff was -

Led to decrease in international trade. The intent was to encourage Americans to buy only American goods however, the effect was that it made matters worse.

16B - What directly contributed to the economic instability of the United States in 1929?

Over-speculation in the stock market. Many Americans even average Americans such as taxi drivers, teachers, barbers over guessed the value of stocks. They were buying stocks worth 2$ for 4$ which caused them to lose money. They were doing this in hopes of making money assuming things would continuously increase.

18A - What statement best explains one effect of the New Deal?

People relied more on the federal government for assistance.

16B - What statement best describes how investment in the stock market during the mid-to-late 1920s contributed to the Great Depression?

People were unable to repay back the loans used to purchase stocks.

16E - Which New Deal program still in existence today provides an income for retired people?

Social Security Administration. This was one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's reform programs.

16E - How did the creation of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation change the nature of banking in the United States?

The government began to guarantee bank deposits. This revived trust in America's banking system.

16C - Why did the federal government create the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) in 1933?

To provide jobs and improve the regional standard of living.

16C - What headline describes the primary issue faced by the federal government at the onset of the Great Depression?

Unemployment rates reach record high.

18A - In response to the national crisis posed by the Great Depression, the U.S. government -

assumed the principal role in protecting economic stability.

18A - the Social Security Act affected the role of the federal government by -

creating a government-administered benefits program.

20B - political cartoon of President FDR in 4 parts. One says 1932 "my friends", 1936 "My friends", 1940 "my subjects", then the final picture says 1944 "my slaves" with him dressed as a king. This satirical cartoon expresses the sentiment(idea/concern) that eventually contributed to -

the ratification(approval) of a constitutional amendment establishing term limits for presidents. Because FDR did not follow tradition of stepping down after two terms like all previous Presidents had - he was elected to a total of 4 terms.

14A - What is the main reason why the government built the Hoover dam?

to provide resources for a growing population.

16B - Breadlines like the one shown in the photograph were partially a result of -

widespread business failures. When the stock market crashed & banks failed, people couldn't purchase goods anymore so warehouses had stock that wouldn't sell which caused businesses to fail.

"an estimated thousand people lived in St. Louis's Hooverville, located on the banks of the Mississippi near the city dump. In New York, noted one observer in 1931, hobos were "coming into the city in large numbers than ever before and have set up a 'jungle' for themselves on the heart of the east side" on vacant lots owned by the city." -Kenneth Kusmer, 2002 What contributed most to the situation described in the excerpt?

High unemployment and widespread home foreclosures

16C - The Federal Children's Bureau, in the summer of 1932, undertook a survey of the situation in the Southwest, with especial reference to boys and young men who by the thousands (estimated 200,000 for the United States) were found "riding the rods" of the railroads. . . . In October 1932 a group of individuals, members of national agencies deeply concerned with this problem, together with a number of persons actively engaged in the study of the subject, organized themselves under the auspices of the National Social Work Council as a discussion group to explore the size and content of the problem . . . and, if possible, to work out some practical plan for its relief. —Dr. Ellen C. Potter, "The Problem of the Transient," 1934 Which situation contributed to the problem described in this excerpt?

Homelessness caused by unemployment during the Great Depression

16B - Decline in worldwide trade, ???, and bank failures -> Great Depression What can the questions marks be replaced with?

Overspeculation in the Stock Market

12A - What factor contributed most to the Dust Bowl?

Prolonged drought and poor farming practices.

16E - What is the main function of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation?

Protecting personal savings in the event of bank failure. This was one of FDR's reform programs of the New Deal because when banks failed, many Americans lost all of their savings.

18B - We are not now required to ascertain the scope of the phrase "general welfare of the United States" or to determine whether an appropriation in aid of agriculture falls within it. Wholly apart from that question, another principle embedded in our Constitution prohibits the enforcement of the Agricultural Adjustment Act. . . . It is a statutory plan to regulate and control agricultural production, a matter beyond the powers delegated to the federal government. —United States v. Butler, 1936 Which constitutional amendment did the Supreme Court use as a basis of this ruling?

Tenth Amendment.

19B - What statement expresses the main argument against President Franklin D. Roosevelt's plan to increase the number of Supreme Court Justices?

The plan gives the executive branch too much power.

16C - "They wanted us out of the country. I didn't understand why when we'd been born here." . . .Emilia Castaneda was born in Los Angeles of Mexican parents. In 1935, she and her father and brother were forced to board a train bound for Mexico." —Linda Pressly, "U.S. Mexicans Haunted by Repatriation," BBC News, November 29, 2006 This excerpt describes an instance of deportation during the 1930s as part of a repatriation effort. Why did the federal government implement repatriation?

To reduce competition for jobs. Nativists as seen in the Gilded Age threated by economic fears.

23A - President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to reassure the American public during uncertain economic times by -

delivering a series of evening radio speeches known as fireside chats.

18A - Agencies Created during the New Deal: Civilian Conservation Corps Works Progress Administration Farm Credit Administration Home Owner's Loan Corporation The goals of these New Deal agencies support the conclusion that the New Deal -

gave the federal government a larger role in the day-to-day welfare of citizens. The federal government's role changes because it starts taking responsibility for the social and economic welfare of its citizens.

16E - The Federal Housing Administration is a New Deal Agency that continues to assist American primarily by -

helping them obtain mortgage loans from banks.

18B - Some of President Franklin D. Roosevelts were declared unconstitutional when the Supreme Court held that they -

infringed on powers reserved to the states.

16D - In January 1932 Congress approved the formation of an independent government agency called the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC). The RFC was funded by the U.S. Treasury and was authorized to make loans to banks, railroads, life insurance companies, and other large businesses devastated by the Great Depression. President Herbert Hoover believed that funds disbursed through the RFC would eventually benefit the average citizen through job growth, higher wages, and the protection of bank accounts and insurance policies. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation is similar to later New Deal legislation in that both —

protected the economy through government intervention in private business.

19B - President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed an increase in the number of Supreme Court Justices because the Court ruled against -

some New Deal Programs. AAA was one of them that they ruled unconstitutional because of the 10th amendment(states & people rights).

16C - political cartoon of FDR with three steps he is walking up. One step says "Government Reorganization", next step says "Supreme Court Revision", and next is a throne that says "Dictator". The creator of this political cartoon was expression his concerns about -

the expansion of executive(president) power during the Great Depression. FDR(Franklin D. Roosevelt) was expanding governmental role in the social & economic welfare of citizens & attempting to pack the Supreme Court, he also served more than 2 terms which was not the norm. Many people believed this was an extreme reach of his power.