Chapter XXXIV: The Great Depression and the New Deal

REVISED

1. What was Franklin Roosevelt talking about when he declared that we have "nothing to fear but fear itself?" To what extent was he correct?
2. What kinds of federal agencies were created by Congress at Roosevelt's request to deal directly with the unemployment crisis of the Great Depression? How did they differ from one another?
3. What New Deal agencies paid for their own operation?
4. If so much of the New Deal was financed against the future, how did we justify accumulating such a fantastic national debt?
5. To what extent did FDR follow Keynesian principles of economics in formulating the New deal?
6. How did FDR and Congress stabilize finances in the Great Depression?
7. Why was the National Industrial Recovery Act such an epochal piece of legislation? Which part of it worked as designed and which part had to be scrapped?
8. How did the New Deal reform stock market activities?
9. Why was the Wagner Act such an important one for labor? How did it encourage the activities of men like John L. Lewis? In your opinion, was Lewis a courageous leader of the downtrodden or an irresponsible troublemaker?
10. Why did the AAA pay farmers not to farm? Do you agree with this sort of idea? Why or why not?
11. Why does the Social Security Act have such a tremendous influence on your life? What problems lie ahead for the Social Security Administration?
12. What steps did the New Deal take to promote family housing?
    
13. Why was FDR's "court packing" scheme defeated? How did Roosevelt's defeat turn into a victory?
    
14. To what extent was the New Deal successful? A failure? What would you have done differently had you been in FDR's place?
15. Was FDR the most important conservative or liberal of the 1930's? Defend both positions.
16. Identify:
    • Eleanor Roosevelt
    • Harry Hopkins
    • Fair Labor Standards Act
    • Alf Landon
    • Schechter "sick chicken" case
    • the "Blue Eagle," C.I.O.
    • Dust Bowl
    • Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act