New_Deal_Cure_to_Great_Depression

“The success of our nation depends wholely on the cooperation of the public” This is an excerpt of the Fireside Chats produced by FDR to communicate to the economy. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the thirty second president of United States. He is mainly known for his “New Deal”, which was a three step process of relief, recovery, and reform to lead the United States out of the Great Depression. The thesis of this essay to procure the strength and weakness’ of this New Deal. Even though many historians believe that their was a first and second new deal, this essay will emphasize on the “New Deal” as a whole. As Roosevelt came into office he was mostly known for his “first hundred days”, in which he met with congress everyday for a hundred days. During this days congress passed every bill the Roosevelt had proposed, and this was incorporated within the advisement of the New Deal. Franklin wasted no time in beginning his New Deal, his first plan of action consisted of the Emergency Banking Act, an act that closed all banks until they could be supervised by the treasury to ensure a regulated and straightforward banking system. This gave the opportunity for the average American to give trust into the banking system and overall eventually boosted the economy. This plan by Roosevelt was a pro to the New Deal with almost no cons to it. Then shortly after Roosevelt passed the Economy Act that saved over five hundred million dollars but cut veterans benefits by fifteen percent. I believe this helped the economy, but it was a total weakness in the New Deal because it hurt the veterans terribly. Then later the congress overrides FDR’s veto, and passes the Bonus Bill which gave the veteran’s a cash. Another huge benefit that was meant to cure the Depression was the Works Project Administration or the “WPA”. This portion was a huge strength because it only hired single women, or women with disabled women, thus giving women the opportunity for employment to help the U.S. get out this depression. The only problem with the WPA was that is ran locally, with racism still brewing in the South, many eligible African American females were turned down, or forced to work in tough manual labor positions such as toeing tobacco or even picking cotton. Another policy of the New Deal focused on relieving the United States out of depression was Farm Security Act, which was produced in the first hundred days. This act allowed farmers to increase their prices on goods by limiting the number of goods they could sell. This act was a double edged sword on the impact on the economy, it definably helped out the farming community, but with increased prices, but a bigger dent into the suburban man’s pocket. It was a strength for some, but a weakness for others in the production of the New Deal. Another huge component connected with farming produced through the New Deal was the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. The goal of the AAA was to improve prices through agricultural scarcity. Now I truly believe that this was a weakness displayed throughout the New Deal for the sole fact that slaughtered thousands of live-stock, and burned acre upon acre of food upon the lands just to improve the rate of the product. There were people starving during this era that could have desperately used this food, I am almost positive that the U.S. Government could have devised a better plan that incorporated the acres of food and live-stock being put to better use than just destroyed. The Supreme Court also decided that this was wrong and unconstitutional in 1936, making this group a weakness of the New Deal. Then on March 13, 1933 Roosevelt put in motion a bill to repeal prohibition. This was on the most cultural diverse issues in the United States. Then just nine days later, alcohol was legal to manufacture and produce. This repeal was a big economy boost for the sole fact that the government could now tax it and make money of it. This was a strength of the New Deal because were already illegally drinking and manufacturing alcohol, so you might as well profit of it. Another strength of the New Deal was the NRA “Blue Eagle” campaign which all major business’ joined to keep people employed and keep all wages and productively levels on average. This program was one of the biggest strengths of the New Deal, because it provided the everyday American with job security and a steady income. In conclusion, the New Deal was the sole fact that Americans were led out of the Great Depression. There majority of programs were strengths to the economy and the people that live in the country, but with no plan is complexly perfect and there were some flaws. These flaws although did not effect the economy or the people enough to hinder the movement out of the Great Depression, and I truly believe the 32nd president of the United States did a fantastic job with the essentials he had.