1st N.D success?

• first

  The First New Deal, President Roosevelt's policies between 1933 and 1935, has had both supporters and critics. His supporters argue that he restored confidence in the American economy, ended the crisis of 1931-33 by his actions in the first 100 days, and made a start on dealing with the problems that faced America. These ranged from mass unemployment, poverty, an unsound banking and stock market system, a weak farming system and a system of government which was unsuited to dealing with major national problems.
• first pt. 2

  He proved to be successful in these areas. However, he had many critics who argued that he was not successful. Some argued that his government interfered too much in the economy and slowed recovery. Some argued that he did not go nearly far enough in dealing with poverty and unemployment, and the New Deal failed too many of the American people. Americans had different views on whether it was successful or not.
• second

  There is a very strong case for arguing that it was successful. In his First Hundred Days in 1933 Roosevelt was able to get passed through Congress a long list of Acts which showed his determination to help the American economy and its people. There was the Emergency Banking Act which helped stabilise the banks and keep them open. The Farm Relief Act started to assist farmers and showed a willingness by the federal government to intervene in agriculture.
• second pt. 2

  The CCC was created and soon created over 300 000 jobs, which showed that the federal government was going to help reduce unemployment. The Tennessee Valley Authority was set up to bring huge economic advantages through dams and flood control in a very poor area of America.
• second pt. 3

  A system was created to help those with mortgages keep their homes, and with the NRA a start was made in helping industry and jobs. The First Hundred Days helped restore confidence in the American system and its economy, and showed the people that this new government was determined to try and solve the many problems facing the USA.
• third

  After the initial Hundred Days, Roosevelt with his Brains Trust and cabinet started to deal with other major problems which faced America, with some real successes. An important part of the First New Deal was the Agricultural Adjustment Act, administered under the leadership of Henry Wallace. This act allowed the federal government to control both farm prices and the level of production, so the problem of oversupply was dealt with.
• third pt. 2

  Farm incomes rose for the first time since the First World War and steps were taken to help the heavy debts that many farmers faced. The rural unrest largely dropped away and the number of farmers who left the land and went to the cities also dropped. Conservation schemes were started and the TVA brought both jobs and real help to a large part of the South. Agriculture should be seen as a New Deal success story.
• third pt. 3

  Another success was in banking and the stock market.

  The Federal Reserve Bank was given increased powers to regulate banks and stop banks from speculating with their customers' money, which had been a major cause of the Crash of 1929. The Securities and Exchange Commission was created to regulate the stock market which also helped prevent further crashes.
• third pt. 4

   Perhaps most important was the impact that the Federal Emergency Relief Administration had on poverty and unemployment. This organisation pumped over $4 billion into the US economy between 1934 and 1935 and it went to either helping the very poor directly or in providing jobs. Unemployment did drop by 1935.
• fourth

  However, from another point of view the New Deal was not successful. Unemployment was still high and some argued that if Roosevelt had not interfered in industry with organisations like the NRA, then recovery would have come sooner.
• fourth pt. 2

   Some, like Townsend and Father Coughlin, believed that he should have done more to get rid of poverty and that he did not go nearly far enough.

  There was little done for African Americans, particularly in the South, but Roosevelt was very dependent on Southern senators and Congressmen for getting his acts through Congress. Given the limited powers that presidents had over the economy under the Constitution, he did achieve a great deal.
• last

  Overall the First New Deal was a success. He prevented the crisis he inherited from getting any worse, and major steps towards solving the many problems that America faced were taken in the course of the First New Deal, especially in terms of farming, banking and the stock market. Jobs were created and the USA remained a democracy.