The New Deal: Crash Course US History #34

CrashCourse
18 Oct 201314:56
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this episode of CrashCourse U.S. history, John Green explores the New Deal, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's ambitious response to the Great Depression. The New Deal, a collection of government programs, aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform to the American economy. It redefined the role of the federal government, leading to a realignment within the Democratic Party and a new era of government intervention in the economy. Despite controversy and initial Supreme Court challenges, the New Deal's programs, such as the Social Security Act and the National Labor Relations Act, transformed the government's relationship with its citizens. It also influenced the political landscape, with the New Deal coalition including diverse groups such as urban progressives, unionized workers, and white southerners. Although it did not single-handedly end the Depression, the New Deal established a precedent for government action in times of crisis and reshaped American expectations of government responsibility.

Takeaways
  • 📜 The New Deal was a series of government programs initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, aiming to provide relief, recovery, and reform to the US economy.
  • 💡 The New Deal redefined the role of the federal government in Americans' lives and led to a realignment in the Democratic Party, creating the so-called New Deal coalition.
  • 🎯 Despite controversy, the New Deal is considered important in American history for its impact on the economy, the concept of liberty, and the government's responsibility towards its citizens.
  • 🚫 Herbert Hoover's inadequate response to the Great Depression and his lack of political appeal led to his defeat in the 1932 presidential election against Roosevelt.
  • 🤔 FDR's New Deal included a mix of relief, recovery, and reform programs, with some like Social Security blending elements of recovery and reform.
  • 🏛️ The New Deal was passed by Congress and not solely created by FDR, highlighting the legislative branch's role in shaping economic policy.
  • 🏗️ The Public Works Administration and the Civil Works Administration were key parts of the New Deal, creating jobs and infrastructure that benefited the economy and the public.
  • 🏛️ The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was a controversial but significant program that provided flood control, prevented deforestation, and supplied cheap electricity to rural areas.
  • 🚫 The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) and the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) faced legal challenges and were eventually struck down by the Supreme Court.
  • 📈 The Second New Deal shifted focus towards economic security with significant legislation like the Wagner Act, which protected workers' rights to unionize, and the Social Security Act, which provided a safety net for citizens.
  • 🌟 The New Deal's legacy includes a transformed Democratic Party, a new understanding of liberty linked to security, and an expectation of government intervention in times of crisis.
Q & A

  • What was the New Deal's primary purpose?

    -The New Deal was a series of government programs intended to fix the Great Depression and prevent future depressions by providing relief, recovery, and reform.

  • What was the National Recovery Administration (NRA)?

    -The NRA was designed to be a collaboration between government planners and business leaders to coordinate industry standards for production, prices, and working conditions.

  • Why was the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) controversial?

    -The AAA was controversial because it gave the government the power to raise farm prices by setting production quotas and paying farmers to plant less food, which seemed absurd to hungry Americans.

  • How did the New Deal redefine the role of the federal government?

    -The New Deal redefined the role of the federal government by expanding its responsibilities to guarantee a comfortable living for every citizen and by regulating the economy to prevent future depressions.

  • What was the impact of the New Deal on the Democratic Party?

    -The New Deal led to a re-alignment of the constituents in the Democratic Party, creating the so-called New Deal coalition which included urban progressives, unionized workers, left-wing intellectuals, urban Catholics and Jews, and African Americans.

  • What was the Supreme Court's initial stance on the New Deal?

    -Initially, the Supreme Court struck down key acts of the New Deal, such as the AAA and the NIRA, because they believed these acts delegated legislative powers to the president and overstepped in regulating local businesses.

  • Why did FDR propose a plan to 'pack the court'?

    -FDR proposed a plan to 'pack the court' by allowing him to appoint new Supreme Court justices if sitting justices reached the age of 70 and did not retire, in response to the court's repeated invalidation of New Deal acts.

  • What was the significance of the National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act)?

    -The Wagner Act guaranteed workers the right to unionize and established the National Labor Relations Board to hear disputes over unfair labor practices, which led to a significant rise in union membership and improved labor conditions.

  • How did the Social Security Act transform the relationship between the federal government and American citizens?

    -The Social Security Act represented a transformation in the relationship between the federal government and American citizens by establishing a social safety net funded through payroll taxes, which included unemployment insurance, aid to the disabled, aid to poor families with children, and retirement benefits.

  • Did the New Deal end the Great Depression?

    -The New Deal did not end the Great Depression; however, it did help to reduce the unemployment rate and improve the economy. Many economic historians argue that it was World War II that ultimately ended the Depression through massive government spending.

  • How did the New Deal change American expectations of their government?

    -The New Deal changed American expectations by making the government an institution directly experienced in Americans' daily lives and directly concerned with their welfare. It established the idea that the government should intervene in times of economic distress.

Outlines
00:00
📜 Introduction to the New Deal

This paragraph introduces the topic of the New Deal, a series of programs and policies implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression. It discusses the controversy surrounding the New Deal, including whether it ended the Depression, its impact on American freedom, and its overall significance in history. The paragraph also outlines the New Deal's role in redefining the federal government's relationship with the American people and reshaping the Democratic Party's base of support.

05:03
🏗️ The Implementation and Impact of the New Deal

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of the New Deal's implementation, including the various programs and acts that were part of it. It covers the initial phase of the New Deal, highlighting key legislation such as the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and the National Industrial Recovery Act. The paragraph also discusses the Supreme Court's initial resistance to the New Deal, leading to the famous 'court-packing' plan proposed by FDR and the eventual shift in the Court's stance, which allowed for greater government regulation of the economy.

10:03
🤝 The Evolution of the New Deal and its Long-Term Effects

This paragraph focuses on the evolution of the New Deal into its second phase, emphasizing the shift from immediate economic recovery to long-term economic security. It discusses the National Labor Relations Act and the Social Security Act, both of which had profound effects on American society. The paragraph also explores the New Deal's impact on American politics, the Democratic Party, and the expectations citizens had of their government. Finally, it addresses the question of whether the New Deal ended the Depression and concludes with the assertion that, regardless of its immediate economic impact, the New Deal fundamentally changed the role of government in American life.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡New Deal
The New Deal refers to a series of programs and policies implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression. These measures aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform to the American economy and its citizens. In the video script, the New Deal is depicted as a transformational set of initiatives that reshaped the federal government's role in American life, emphasizing its importance regardless of the viewer's opinion on its effects on freedom and economic policy.
💡Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted through the late 1930s. It is central to understanding the context of the New Deal, as the economic hardships faced by Americans necessitated substantial government intervention. The video discusses how President Roosevelt's administration sought to address the pervasive unemployment and economic instability during this period through the New Deal.
💡Three R's
The Three R's stand for Relief, Recovery, and Reform, a categorization of the New Deal programs. Relief programs aimed to provide immediate assistance to suffering Americans, Recovery programs focused on revitalizing the economy, and Reform programs were meant to prevent future depressions. The video script uses this framework to outline the varied objectives of the New Deal, illustrating its comprehensive approach to addressing the economic crisis.
💡Supreme Court
The Supreme Court plays a significant role in the script as it initially opposed many New Deal measures, striking down laws like the AAA and the NIRA as unconstitutional. This opposition led to President Roosevelt's controversial court-packing plan, which aimed to appoint additional justices who would be more favorable to his policies. This narrative underscores the tension between different branches of government and the challenges of implementing widespread reforms.
💡Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
The Tennessee Valley Authority was a New Deal agency tasked with providing electricity, preventing floods, and improving the quality of life in the Tennessee Valley through infrastructure projects. It was controversial because it represented direct government competition against private companies. The script mentions the TVA to highlight how the New Deal actively sought to modernize and uplift rural areas, yet sparked debates over the extent of governmental intervention in the economy.
💡Social Security Act
Passed in 1935, the Social Security Act is highlighted in the script as a landmark piece of legislation that established a safety net for the elderly, unemployed, and disabled. This act is presented as a pivotal aspect of the Second New Deal, shifting focus from economic recovery to long-term security. It embodied a significant change in the relationship between the federal government and American citizens, redefining expectations of government responsibility for individual welfare.
💡National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA)
The NIRA was designed to stabilize the economy by regulating industry standards for prices, wages, and working conditions, and was a key part of the New Deal's recovery efforts. The script describes it as having the National Recovery Administration, which tried to foster cooperation between the government and business. However, it faced legal challenges and was eventually struck down by the Supreme Court, illustrating the complexities of implementing regulatory reforms.
💡Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)
The AAA was intended to raise agricultural prices by reducing surpluses. The government paid farmers to cut production, which, though aimed at stabilizing prices, resulted in the controversial destruction of produce and livestock at a time when many were starving. The script uses the AAA to discuss the ethical and practical dilemmas faced in executing New Deal policies, especially in how they affected different segments of society.
💡Keynesian economics
Keynesian economics advocates for increased government expenditures and lower taxes to stimulate demand and pull the global economy out of depression. The script references this economic theory in discussing the shift in governmental approach during the New Deal, highlighting how FDR's policies were influenced by Keynesian ideas, particularly the notion that government spending was crucial for economic recovery.
💡Works Progress Administration (WPA)
The WPA was a central New Deal agency that provided jobs to millions of Americans during the Great Depression. It funded a wide range of public works projects, including the construction of buildings and roads, and supported the arts by employing artists, musicians, and writers. The script mentions the WPA to emphasize its role in reducing unemployment and its impact on American culture and infrastructure development.
Highlights

The New Deal was a set of government programs intended to fix the Great Depression and prevent future depressions.

The New Deal redefined the role of the federal government for most Americans and led to a re-alignment of the Democratic Party.

FDR suggested that it was the government’s responsibility to guarantee every man a right to make a comfortable living, without specifying how.

The New Deal included the end of Prohibition, which FDR called for and kept as a campaign promise.

The National Recovery Administration (NRA) was designed for government planners and business leaders to coordinate industry standards.

The New Deal is categorized into three R’s: relief, recovery, and reform programs.

The First New Deal includes programs passed during FDR's first hundred days in office, such as the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Agricultural Adjustment Act.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was a controversial program that built dams for flood control and provided cheap electricity.

The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) gave the government power to raise farm prices by setting production quotas.

The AAA and National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) were invalidated by the Supreme Court, leading to the proposal of the court-packing plan by FDR.

The Second New Deal shifted focus towards economic security with significant laws like the Wagner Act and the Social Security Act.

The Wagner Act guaranteed workers the right to unionize and created the National Labor Relations Board.

The Social Security Act of 1935 represented a transformation in the relationship between the federal government and American citizens.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a successful government employment program that employed more than 3 million Americans each year until 1943.

The New Deal changed American political dynamics, with FDR gaining support from various groups including white southerners, despite their racist tendencies.

The New Deal did not end the Depression, but it did change expectations of government intervention in times of economic distress.

Economic historians argue that World War II, a massive government spending program, ultimately ended the Depression.

The New Deal's legacy includes shaping the American Democratic Party, changing the concept of liberty, and establishing the 'imperial presidency'.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

The GREAT DEPRESSION & the NEW DEAL [APUSH Unit 7 Topics 9-10] Period 7: 1898-1945

ECONOMY in the INTERWAR Period [AP World History] Unit 7 Topic 4 (7.4) [REUPLOAD]

The GLOBAL ECONOMY Between the World Wars [AP World History Review—Unit 7 Topic 4]

Free To Choose - Milton Friedman on The Welfare System (1978) | Thomas Sowell

The PROGRESSIVE Era [APUSH Unit 7 Topic 4] Period 7: 1898-1945

The GLOBAL Economic Crisis Between World Wars [AP Euro Review—Unit 8 Topic 5]

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
New DealGreat DepressionFDRAmerican HistoryEconomic RecoverySocial SecurityPolitical ShiftLibertyCrashCourseEducational