Was the New Deal a Success?

Aspect 4: Black Americans Around 200,000 black Americans gained benefits from the CCC & other ND agencies Many black Americans benefited from ND slum clearance and housing projects Many ND agencies discriminated against black people. They either got no work or received worse treatment or lower wages FDR failed to pass anti-lynching laws for fear that Democratic senators of southern states (Dixiecrats) would not support him

Around 200,000 black Americans gained benefits from the CCC & other ND agencies

Many black Americans benefited from ND slum clearance and housing projects

Many ND agencies discriminated against black people. They either got no work or received worse treatment or lower wages

FDR failed to pass anti-lynching laws for fear that Democratic senators of southern states (Dixiecrats) would not support him

Aspect 5: Women ND saw some women achieve prominent positions. Eleanor Roosevelt became important campaigner on social issues Mary McCleod Bethune, a black woman, headed the National Youth Administration Frances Perkins, as Sec. Labor, removed 59 corrupt officials from Labor Dept. & was key figure in making 2 nd ND work in practice Most ND programs aimed to help male manual workers, not women (only 8000 women involved in CCC) Local gov’ts tried to avoid paying out social security payments to women by introducing special qualifications and conditions Frances Perkins was viciously attacked in the press as a Jew & Soviet spy. Even her cabinet colleagues tended to ignore her at social gatherings

ND saw some women achieve prominent positions. Eleanor Roosevelt became important campaigner on social issues

Mary McCleod Bethune, a black woman, headed the National Youth Administration

Frances Perkins, as Sec. Labor, removed 59 corrupt officials from Labor Dept. & was key figure in making 2 nd ND work in practice

Most ND programs aimed to help male manual workers, not women (only 8000 women involved in CCC)

Local gov’ts tried to avoid paying out social security payments to women by introducing special qualifications and conditions

Frances Perkins was viciously attacked in the press as a Jew & Soviet spy. Even her cabinet colleagues tended to ignore her at social gatherings

Aspect 6: Native Americans Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 provided money to help Native Americans to buy and improve land Indian Reservation Act of 1934 helped Native Americans to preserve and practice their traditions, laws and culture Native Americans remained a poor and excluded section of society

Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 provided money to help Native Americans to buy and improve land

Indian Reservation Act of 1934 helped Native Americans to preserve and practice their traditions, laws and culture

Native Americans remained a poor and excluded section of society

Focus Task: How successful was the New Deal? This is a complicated question. You have already spent time thinking about it; now you are going to prepare to write an essay. First, recap some key points: Roosevelt’s aims Make a list of FDR’s aims for the 1 st New Deal What new aims did the 2 nd New Deal have? In which of these aims did FDR succeed? In which did he fail? The unemployment problem Explain why unemployment remained high through the 1930s Does this mean that FDR’s New Deal was not a success? Opposition How far do you think opposition to the ND made it hard for the ND to work? Criticisms & achievements Which criticism of the New Deal do you think is the most serious? Why? Which achievement of the New Deal do you think is the most important? Why? Would FDR have agreed with you choice? Why?

This is a complicated question. You have already spent time thinking about it; now you are going to prepare to write an essay. First, recap some key points:

Roosevelt’s aims

Make a list of FDR’s aims for the 1 st New Deal

What new aims did the 2 nd New Deal have?

In which of these aims did FDR succeed? In which did he fail?

The unemployment problem

Explain why unemployment remained high through the 1930s

Does this mean that FDR’s New Deal was not a success?

Opposition

How far do you think opposition to the ND made it hard for the ND to work?

Criticisms & achievements

Which criticism of the New Deal do you think is the most serious? Why?

Which achievement of the New Deal do you think is the most important? Why?

Would FDR have agreed with you choice? Why?

Focus Task: How successful was the New Deal? Now write your own balanced account of the successes and failures of the New Deal, reaching your own conclusion as to whether it was a success or not. Include: The nature and scale of the problem facing FDR The action he took through the 1930s The impact of the New Deal on Americans The reasons for opposition to the New Deal Your own judgment on its success or failure Include evidence to back up your judgments

Now write your own balanced account of the successes and failures of the New Deal, reaching your own conclusion as to whether it was a success or not. Include:

The nature and scale of the problem facing FDR

The action he took through the 1930s

The impact of the New Deal on Americans

The reasons for opposition to the New Deal

Your own judgment on its success or failure

Include evidence to back up your judgments

Fin