Alexandria Cornelius
American Modern Civilization
The New Deal The inequality of wealth, underconsumption, consumer spending with credit, and reckless banking were the main factors that led to the economic downturn in 1929. With Roosevelt in office and his promised “New Deal” that won the support of many women, African Americans, factory workers, immigrants, and farmers Roosevelt was able to put together the nation’s political loyalties that was torn apart during Hoover’s term in office. Presenting no clear, coherent policy; Roosevelt was able to triumph and become president without drawing out a specific plan on his intentions to restore the economy and would soon face opposition and criticism. Moreover, he was granted …show more content…
It created jobs for people who were unemployed with thousands of public works projects which paid more than eight hundred million dollars to previously unemployed workers and in addition to this, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration provided education, health, and provided vaccines for millions of Americans in need. Furthermore, one of Franklins most popular relief programs was the Civilian Conservation Corps which offered unemployed young men a chance to work while conserving natural resources. By the end of the program in 1942, the 3 million workers had checked soil erosion, tamed rivers, planted over two billion trees, and created vast new recreation areas open to millions of …show more content…
Beginning with Francis Townsend in 1934, a retired physician, who proposed a “cure for depressions” formed an Old-Age Revolving Pensions Corporation in which Townsend would require the government to send all citizens over the age of sixty a monthly pension of two hundred dollars. The unemployed elderly would then open up jobs for younger citizens and the income these citizens received would fuel money into the economy and eventually lead to recovery. Moreover, while Francis appealed mainly to the elderly, Charles E. Coughlin appealed to Catholics and a lower-middle-class citizens. Furthermore, his popularity was at its peak as Charles brought together the National Union for Social Justice, which aided monetary inflation to help farmers and the nationalization of banks to control the loans they would give to citizens. Finally, Huey Pierce Long was the greatest threat to Roosevelt. In 1934 Huey created the “Share Our Wealth” society, in which he made false promises to make “every man a king” by offering families a guaranteed annual income of $2,000 by proposing a heavy taxes on the wealthy. His organization counted a near seven million members, however before he could lead a campaign for president, he was shot and