New Deal Programs – Student Notes Page
VIDEO NOTES – “Happy days are here again,” a brief introduction to President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
A. In the midst of the Great Depression, America held the election of
__________
1. As governor of New York, Roosevelt was popular as a _____________.
FDR fought ________________ and unemployment in New York.
B. FDR beats Hoover by ____ million votes. He won _____/48 states.
C. FDR was popular because he was optimistic and charismatic. He spoke
to Americans as his __________________.
D. Like his cousin, Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, he wanted to use his
presidency as an __________________ office, through which he could
__________ the American people.
E. Before taking office, FDR made plans to fight the Depression. He
convened an elite group of advisors known as the
_____________________________. This group included lawyers, professors,
economists, and business leaders.
F. He designed a series of policies that would become known as the
____________________________.
1. New Deal programs would __________________ the economic
problems of the Depression through _____________________________
and __________________________________
2. The Three R’s: _____________________, ________________________,
__________________________ (end 2:47)
THE NEW DEAL
FOUR IMPORTANT NEW DEAL PROGRAMS
CCC – Civilian Conservation Corps
• Purpose: offered work to unemployed young men to
work on public service projects.
o Impact: projects included improving public parks
and building infrastructure for flood and erosion
prevention; nearly 80,000 Georgians were
employed by this program; parks and historic
battlefields were cleaned and preserved
AAA – Agricultural Adjustment Act
• Purpose: to help farmers with their overproduction
problem. Georgia farmers were overproducing crops
like cotton and tobacco. Because there was so much
supply available, prices of these crops plummeted. The
federal government paid the farmers (provided a
subsidy) to grow fewer crops and eliminate the surplus.
o Impact in Georgia: while landowners benefitted
from this policy, sharecroppers and tenant farmers
did not. Landowners were supposed to share the
money from the government subsidy, but many
did not, leaving sharecroppers and tenant farmers
with less income.
REA – Rural Electrification Administration
• Purpose: to bring electricity to all parts of the country,
especially rural areas. (At the time, 90% of urban homes
had electricity, while only 10% of rural homes had
electricity.)
o Impact: by 1939, 25% of rural households had
electricity, and by 1945, nearly 90% of rural
households had electricity.
o It is thought that this act was passed by FDR
because of his time spent in Georgia at his small
home in Warm Springs, Georgia, where he treated
his polio.
SSA – Social Security Administration
• Purpose: to offer financial aid to those over 65, disabled,
and dependent children whose parents passed or are
unable to provide
o Accomplishments: This program had a lasting
impact on Americans, and it’s one of the longest
running programs from FDR’s New Deal. Today,
most employed American citizens are connected
to the SSA by either paying Social Security taxes or
receiving its benefits.
SCENARIOS
SCENARIO A:
“My husband, Clark, and I have worked on this farm our entire adult lives. One half of the farm
grows cotton and the other half grows tobacco. We’ve had great success with growing our crops,
and we’ve had many lovely people who worked on our farm with us. We allowed them to use our
land, and they gave us a share of the crop in return. It was hugely beneficial. The problem is that
our workers are leaving for new adventures in the North and in the West. My husband and I are
nearing 70 years old, and we won’t be able to keep up with the farm much longer. We’ve grown
tired, but we feel like we have little choice in the matter since we lost all of our savings in the
market crash. Now, we’re not big fans of Mr. Roosevelt, but we sure would like if he could find a
way to look after the rural folk.”
Which New Deal program would best benefit this couple?
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Explain your answer, using details from your notes:
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What other topics that were previously discussed in class are mentioned in the quote above? Do
you agree with the woman’s perspective on her situation? Why or why not?
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SCENARIO B:
“My son Charlie just turned 18, and what a terrible world for him to start adulthood! There are no
jobs…no money for college…there aren’t even apprenticeships! It’s nearly impossible for us to
support him, as we have been cut back to just ten hours of factory work a week. We have other
children to think about. I don’t want to kick him out of our home, but we can’t put an adult’s
needs over the needs of our younger children.”
Which New Deal program would best benefit this mother?
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Explain your answer, using details from your notes:
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SCENARIOS
SCENARIO C:
“The whole country is obsessed with buying silly things! Every day the newspaper has articles
encouraging us to help the economy by buying new things…ice boxes, toasters, electric ranges,
dishwashers. What are we supposed to do with all that junk? Mr. Roosevelt thinks buying things will
solve all our problems. Well, what about the millions of people like us without even a light! The
town one hour north of here barely has any electricity… how does he think we have any?
Typically New Yorker. What am I supposed to do with a toaster? Bang it with a spoon and call it a
dinner bell?”
Which New Deal program would best benefit this farmer?
____________________________________________________________
Explain your answer, using details from your notes:
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SCENARIO D:
“It’s not my fault the depression has folks all scared to buy stuff. Everyone needs cotton! I don’t
understand it. You need cotton for linens, clothes, books, diapers, money, bandages…how is it
possible that none of those swanky northern businessmen has any need for my crop? What am I
supposed to do with all these bales? And even when a buyer does make an offer, it’s offensively
low. Don’t insult me with your 6 cents per pound. Nonsense.”
Which New Deal program would best benefit this farmer?
____________________________________________________________
Explain your answer, using details from your notes:
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