Evaluation of the New Deals Domestic Program - Essay Example

Assignment 8UT Question Evaluation of the New Deals domestic program The Great Depression of 1929 brought with it a number of challenges during the presidency of Franklin D Roosevelt. The state of the economy was worsening every day, and most industries and other sectors driving the economy, such as the banking sector were collapsing. However, Roosevelt taking over power from his predecessor, he set upon talking the economic crisis by initiating the New Deals domestic program. It is his policies in this New Deal that made him a darling of capitalists in the country. His policies mainly favored capitalism through a number of ways. One of the policies was measures taken to revive the collapsing banking industry. President Roosevelt introduced a banking holiday, as well as Emergency Banking Relief bill, which sought to give assistance to private bankers so that they can revitalize their businesses. This measure resulted to an increase in bank deposits by the Americans at the time, who had withdrawn all their savings during the Great Depression. Additionally, it gave rise to rich private banks as a result of this booming business. Another policy that favored capitalism was the introduction of acts of the federal government such as the National Industrial Recovery Act and the Agricultural Adjustment Act. These policies sought to revive the dying industries by providing government assistance creating an environment in which businesses could thrive. The effect of this was that it gave rise to large businesses, which dominated specific industries; at the expense of the smaller enterprises. Question 2 Why did each of these groups give their support to the New Deal? Farmers, working class and the blacks The New Deal domestic program was favored by the majority of farmers, working class as well as the black community in the nation. In efforts to revive the economy, President Roosevelt sought to introduce policies that provided government assistance to those in need during the Great Depression. Those most affected by the Great Depression were these groups of people and, therefore, Roosevelt’s policies significantly favored them hence the overwhelming support (Ayers, 2009). What specific program appealed to each of them? What social, economic, and political situations necessitated special programs? The New Deal introduced a number of polices that favored these groups of people. Effects of the Great Depression in 1929 necessitated these special programs so as to address the economic crisis that the nation was facing at that time. The farmers for instance, got reprieve through the formulation of the Tennessee Valley Authority which was given the mandate to address issues such as irrigation, flood control and manufacture of fertilizer. The Agricultural Adjustment Act also helped a number of farmers by providing government subsidies to insulate them from over production and price changes. Introduction of policies such as the Emergency Bank Relief Bill resurrected the dying banking industry. The National Industrial Recovery Act also revitalized the industries. This means that a number of people got their jobs back as a result of these polices. The black community also found solace in the policies since they did not discriminate against race but gave an opportunity to every citizen to be part of the reforms. This means that they could establish their businesses as well as seek employment just like the white people. How did the existence of this block of voters change American politics during the 1930’s? The effects of the Great Depression affected the majority of American’s population. This group consisted of the black community, the farmers and the working class. Roosevelt’s policies, as we have discussed, favored this group of people and therefore, got the support of this group of people. This means that President Roosevelt got the backing of majority of the American people and therefore gave him overwhelming support during the forth-coming elections (Ayers, 2009). Identifications 1. Tennessee Valley Authority Established in May 1933, the Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate organization of the United States of America that was created to provide services to the people of Tennessee Valley. The services provided include; manufacture of fertilizer, generation of electricity, controlling floods, and assist in navigation. The state of Tennessee, unlike other states in the country, was hard hit by the effects of the Great Depression (Ayers, 2009). 2. Huey Long Born in 1893, Huey Long served as the Governor of Louisiana before being elected as a senator. He is well known for his radical policies that aimed to address the crisis created by the Great Depression. Among his hugely popular policies was his proposal for wealth distribution through a program often referred to as the ‘share our wealth’ program. This program aimed to address challenges faced during the Great Depression such as homelessness and poverty by taxing corporations and individuals on their net assets. He also articulated government expenditure on schools, pension schemes and public works to help address the economic crisis at the time. His presidential ambitions were, however, shattered after he was assassinated in 1935, 3. “Court-packing plan" It was a controversial plan by President Franklin Roosevelt to increase the size of the Supreme Court to 15 judges, so as to increase its efficiency in its mandates. The move was highly believed by critics that it was meant to weed out judges who were not supportive to his New Deal, hence the term ‘packing’. The New Deal was Roosevelt’s plans to tackle the biting economic crisis during the Great Depression, though the plan faced numerous court battles whereby the several provisions were struck down by the Supreme Court. 4. Sit-down strikes It is a form of industrial action taken by a group of organized workers employed in an organization or industry that takes the form of sitting-down at their work stations. This by effect enables them to possess the organization thus preventing the bosses from replacing them or moving the enterprise to a different location. The most popular sit-down strike occurred in Flint, Michigan, where striking workers took charge of a number of General Motors plants for several days. Not even efforts by the police at that time could repel the striking workers off. 5. Munich Agreement It is an agreement made between France, Italy, Great Britain and Germany that allowed the latter country to acquire Sudetenland which was in the Western parts of Czechoslovakia. This acquisition was fueled by Hitler’s realization that there were close to three million German natives living in Sudeten region. Hitler, therefore, made plans to acquire the region, but in an effort to avoid war with Germany, the leadership of France, Italy and Great Britain decided to make an agreement with the former dictator to allow him acquire Sudetenland. Bibliography AYERS, E. L. (2009). American passages: a history of the United States. Boston, MA Wadsworth/Cengage Learning Read More