The New Deal's Emphasis on Relief

Each of the Three R's--reform, relief, and recovery--were all adequately addressed in the New Deal, however there was a clear emphasis on one of these, relief.  Once Roosevelt took office, he immediately began establishing certain policies and programs that he believed would result in the relief of the American people's struggles and hardships during the Great Depression (had a focus on issues concerning jobs, food, and money).  Roosevelt passed the Agricultural Adjustment Act, or the AAA, which relieved farmers who were overproducing their agricultural goods.  He did so by giving subsidies so they would kill their livestock and stop planting crops, this would allow the prices on the market to go up.  He also passed the 1933 Banking Act which reinstated trust in the American banking system by founding the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the FDIC.  He also established the Works Progress Administration, or the WPA, whose ambitious aim was to employ millions of unemployed (and fairly unskilled) citizens.  These people were given jobs in public works which helped the country, some of these jobs focused on things such as buildings and roads.  This offered relief to millions who were granted jobs and were again able to bring in a steady income.  These measures taken by Roosevelt's administration, as well as many others in the New Deal, came together to create a clear emphasis on the "R" of Relief.

The International Effects of the Depression

The Great Depression was the most severe economic downfall of modern times; millions lost their jobs, farmers and businesses went into bankruptcy, and suppliers of primary products were affected.  The economic collapse started solely in the United States, but soon affected other European countries because of the newly close relationships between American and European countries that had been formed after World War I.  The US came out of the war as a major creditor and financier of post war Europe.  The economies in Europe had been already weakened significantly as a result of the war, war debts, and war reparations in the case of Germany and other conquered nations.  As a result of such close relations and a heavy reliance of Europe on the US, the Great Depression's devastating affects were felt worldwide.

The Main Areas Affected
The United States, of course, was greatly affected by the Depression; the recession was initially seen as a inevitable part of the boom-bust cycle, especially after the great prosperity of the Roaring Twenties.  However, the economic decline lasted much longer than expected and almost everyone in the country was affected by the downturn.

The economic situation in Germany which was already unhealthy as a result of the war, was further distressed by the Great Depression.  Germany was forced to borrow heavily from the United States to pay off their war "reparations" to the triumphant European powers, as agreed to in the Treaty of Versailles, as well as pay for industrial reconstruction.  So, when America fell into an economic crisis, US banks recalled their loans, and the German banking system broke down.



Countries, such as Latin America, were dependent on exported primary products, were already enduring a depression in the late 1920s.  Advances in farming techniques and technology meant that agricultural products were being over produced, this imbalance in supply and demand led to falling prices.  At first, the governments of these export reliant countries stockpiled their products, but their ability to do this was dependent upon loans from the US and Europe.  When these loans were recalled, these stockpiles were released onto the market, causing prices to collapse and the income of these producing countries to diminish.


Politics Impacts
In countries such as Germany and Japan, the Depression catalyzed a rise of militarist governments who adopted regressive foreign policies (which eventually led to WWII).  In countries, such as the United States and Britain, the Great Depression lead to the creation of welfare systems and more governmental intervention in the economy.

In the US, Roosevelt was elected president and created the New Deal under which the government would intervene to decrease the rate of unemployment.  Agricultural and industrial industries were benefited by policies that restricted the country's output, which then raised rices.

In Germany Hitler adopted policies that were more interventionist, he developed a massive work-creation plan that greatly reduced unemployment.  In order to prevent inflation, consumption was regulated by rationing and trade controls.

The economic crisis was far from a solely American problem as countries worldwide felt the heavy-handed blow of the Great Depression.

The Role of Movies in the Great Depression

Hollywood, like every other industry, was crippled by the Great Depression, however it was able to successfully recover its profits through a number of methods.  One of the most popular ways of reining in money was offering drawings and sweepstakes (like a raffle) at the movie theater for prize money.  Although the amount of money won was small, the promise of a chance at money was extremely appealing to poverty stricken Americans.  Also, movie tickets were fairly cheap, selling at only $0.27, a very good bargain for a one to two hour escape from the harsh reality of the Depression.

Another reason for the great attraction to movies was a fascination with Society Papers.  Society Papers provided a look into the lives of popular celebrities, much like magazines today.  Many housewives read these papers as they searched for a glimpse into the money rich lives of the upper echelons of society.  This concept of a great interest in the lives of beloved American celebrities is still very much alive today; however, in these days, the fascination did not lie in scandals and love triangles, but rather in the glory of wealth.  Readers of the Society Papers were able to live vicariously through the articles as rich and famous celebrities.  This interest in big names drew even more people to the theaters.

Movies were able to not only survive but prosper during the Great Depression because of their ability to offer a relatively cheap way to vacation away from the country's dire situation.  Audiences relished the glory and excitement of money-filled, high class fantasies thus allowing the movie industry to thrive in a time when almost every other industry was badly devastated.

Roosevelt and the New Deal

The Great Depression began in 1929 with the great stock market crash, plummeting the United States into an economic recession more severe than had ever been seen by the country.  By 1932, one of the most grim years of the Depression, at least 25% of the American workforce was unemployed.
Franklin Roosevelt was elected as president in 1933 with promises to stabilize the American economy stating that "the only thing to fear is fear itself".  He promised to "wage war against the emergency" as if the economic disaster was a foreign enemy.  He made many efforts to provide jobs and assistance to all those who had been affected.
Over his first years in office, the laws passed by Congress and the presidential executive orders that aimed to help the economy and those who were suffering from its downfall, became known altogether as the New Deal.  These programs focused on, what historians now call, the "Three R's: Relief, Recovery, and Reform.  His short term goals being to relieve the economy and immediate recovery while the long term goals being permanent recovery and reform of current abuses (such as the ones that had created the catastrophic Depression).  The country saw the passage of banking reform laws, emergency relief programs, work relief programs, and agricultural programs.  However, despite all of his strides to end the Great Depression, the programs he had passed had failed to fulfill their promises of an economic turn around.
As the years passed and no improvement was seen, people began to grow impatient and their belief in Roosevelt's optimism subsided.  This impatience grew impressively in 1934; some Republicans and disaffected Democrats joined together in the American Liberty League (a congregation of primarily wealthy elites and prominent political figures that opposed the New Deal) and others worked to make the Republican Party the ultimate vessel of salvation.  In addition to the increasing impatience, the New Deal was attacked by the right who claimed that it was too generous in its federal handouts and that it was a step towards socialism, something that would shatter the current American capitalist system.  Coughlin and Long were two of the most prominent and highly influential contrarians to Roosevelt's New Deal, together, along with others in opposition (Taft, Lindbergh, Hearst), they were able to effectively challenge Roosevelt.
Pushed by his critics and the clear need for more federal aid to the still suffering Americans, Roosevelt altered his policy by 1935.  These altered policies became known as the Second New Deal.  Among these was the Social Security Act (federal retiree pension system for many workers), assistance to farmers and Native Americans, and many labor reforms (such as the Wagner Act which paved the way for more effective bargaining and striking).
In the presidential election of 1936, the Democratic commitment to the "Three R's" was prevalent and the Republicans didn't have much of a change.  Roosevelt was able to reign n the support of black voters, unskilled laborers, and residents of the West and South.  His opponent was Alfred Landon who ran on an anti-New Deal platform.  Roosevelt won a decisive landslide victory (five hundred twenty three electoral votes to eight).  His sweeping victory was proof of American support for the New Deal.

Why does the American form of government work?

The American governmental system is one that is hailed often, it a complicated and intricate system.  One of the main reasons that it works is demonstrated by James Madison in his Federalist Papers No. 10, in which he writes,"Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens; or if such a common motive exists, it will be more difficult for all who feel it to discover their own strength, and to act in unison with each other."  In saying this, Madison is indicating that in order for a society to function, it must have a large diversity of people (religion, political beliefs, etc.).  When a society only has one type of person that is allowed to vote or make decisions in office they will make only decisions that benefit themselves rather than the public masses.  This, in turn, will lead to the downfall of a government and possibly the country (as it was very new at the time and a strong government was essential).  However, by embracing and including different beliefs of others, Madison argues that the governmental system will flourish.

Also in his Federalist Papers No. 10, James Madison writes "Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires."  Through this phrase, Madison is explaining that without air a fire cannot breathe the same way in which a faction cannot thrive when deprived of liberty.  Liberty is one of the most important things that American colonists fought for during the Revolutionary War, thus making it something that should be vital in the American government.  Without freedoms a governmental system and country cannot work.

In his Federalist Papers No. 51, James Madison speaks about why a government is a necessity, saying "If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary."  Through this phrase James Madison is conveying the message that if men were all saints then no government would even be needed, however that is far from reality.  Speaking realistically, humans don't always make the right choices and are far from being perfect, because of this there needs to be a government that establishes and implements law and order, for without one such government a nation would fall into chaos and be unable to prosper.

Also in Federalist Papers No. 51, Madison writes "In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights." In saying this, Madison again argues (seen previously in his Federalist Papers No. 10) that in order to have a free government, religious toleration and acceptance must be practiced as fervently as the maintenance of civil rights.  Religion is a powerful thing that has driven nations apart and caused huge wars, without religious toleration in America and the government--an extremely new country prided upon acceptance and freedoms for all as "all men are created equal"--the nation would quickly become one of turmoil and disarray.