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The Great Depression

First New Deal

History >> The Great Depression

The "New Deal" refers to a number of U.S. government programs put into law to help the country recover from the Great Depression. The New Deal programs that were passed during the first two years that Franklin D. Roosevelt was president are sometimes called the "First New Deal." You can go here to read about the Second New Deal.

Roosevelt at desk in front of microphones
FDR explains the New Deal
during Fireside Chat

Photo by Unknown
First Hundred Days

When President Roosevelt first came into office, he wanted to get things started quickly. During the first one hundred days that he was president, he issued several executive orders and helped get many laws passed through Congress.

Banking Reform

One of the first things that President Roosevelt did was to close the banks in what he called a "bank holiday." Congress then passed a law called the Emergency Banking Act. This law allowed for banks to reopen under the supervision of the Federal Treasury. It helped to stabilize the banks and to bring back confidence in the banking system.

Stock Market

The Securities Act of 1933 was passed to help prevent another stock market crash. It required publicly traded companies to provide accurate information to the public including profits, losses, and corporate officers of the company.

Repealing Prohibition

President Roosevelt put in a measure that would repeal prohibition until the 21st Amendment was ratified. This was popular among the people and allowed for new tax revenue due to legal alcohol sales.


Men building a new road
Photo by Unknown
Public Works

The president began a large program for public works and created the Public Works Administration (PWA). This program built things like roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and dams across the country. These programs provided jobs for many. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) also created many jobs for men where they worked on environmental projects like national parks.

Farm Programs

To help farmers out, the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) was put into place. It helped to improve farming practices, reduced farm production to raise prices, and gave a voice to farmers in the government.

Housing

In order to get the housing industry going again, two new agencies were formed: the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The HOLC was formed to help refinance mortgages and to help people keep their homes. The FHA put government standards on the construction of homes to make sure that homes were safe. It also helped to insure mortgages and stabilize the home mortgage market.

Emergency Relief

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration provided help for the unemployed. It built soup kitchens to feed people, provided blankets to the homeless, lunches for schools, and educated people on how to find a job.

Interesting Facts About the First New Deal Activities More About the Great Depression
Overview
Timeline
Causes of the Great Depression
The End of the Great Depression
Glossary and Terms

Events
Bonus Army
Dust Bowl
First New Deal
Second New Deal
Prohibition
Stock Market Crash

Culture
Crime and Criminals
Daily Life in the City
Daily Life on the Farm
Entertainment and Fun
Jazz
People
Louis Armstrong
Al Capone
Amelia Earhart
Herbert Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover
Charles Lindbergh
Eleanor Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Babe Ruth

Other
Fireside Chats
Empire State Building
Hoovervilles
Prohibition
Roaring Twenties


Works Cited

History >> The Great Depression


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