Q. ‘The New Deal helped all Americans’. How far do you agree? (18 marks)
There are many ways in which the New Deal did help Americans. For example, the
Wagner Act 1935. This was introduced to replace the NRA, which had been shut
down by the US Supreme Court. Employers had been losing enthusiasm for the
National Recovery Administration, arguing it was too expensive and there were too
many regulations which had interfered in their businesses. The Wagner Act made
sure that all workers had the right to join a trade union and allowed unions to
negotiate with employers for better wages and working conditions. The act made it
illegal to sack workers for being union members and set up a National Labor
Relations Board to ensure all employers and trade unions acted correctly. In 1938,
the Fair Labor Standards Act set a minimum wage and introduced rules about
working conditions and hours.
Another factor of the New Deal that helped Americans was the Works Progress
Administration, which was set up in 1935. Its aim was to provide short-term
employment for unskilled workers, mainly in construction projects. It extended this
work by finding jobs for office workers and even unemployed actors, artists and
photographers. For example, the Federal Arts Project paid unemployed artists to
produce posters, murals and paintings for buildings such as schools, hospitals and
libraries. By the tie the WPA shut down in 1943 it had provided eight million jobs.
However, there were ways in which the New Deal did not help all Americans. For
example, the New Deal did not benefit all black Americans. By 1935, around 3 million
black Americans were working for New Deal agencies such as the CCC and the TVA
and many black families were provided with new homes when slum areas were
cleared as part of New Deal projects. However, many of the agencies discriminated
against black Americans, they either got not wages or no work at all. Some
employers sacked black Americans rather than give them better pay and conditions.
The NRA were even given nicknames such as ‘Negro Run Around’ and ‘Negro
Removal Act’. In fear of losing support of the democrats, Roosevelt failed to pass
laws against lynching.
Another example is the role of women. The New Deal did see women achieve
prominent positions, like Eleanor Roosevelt who became an important campaigner
on social issues. However, the New Deal programs and agencies were mainly aimed
at male manual workers rather than women. Large numbers of women worked in
domestic service such as cooks, cleaners or maids. These jobs were not covered by
the New Deal agencies such as the NRA.
Overall, I believe after the New Deal had more of a benefit on America’s economy
after the Wall Street Crash as it had provided a huge amount of jobs for the millions
that were unemployed. But I also believe it didn’t have a great effect on America’s
society, as black Americans continued to face discrimination and women against
sexism.
There are many ways in which the New Deal did help Americans. For example, the
Wagner Act 1935. This was introduced to replace the NRA, which had been shut
down by the US Supreme Court. Employers had been losing enthusiasm for the
National Recovery Administration, arguing it was too expensive and there were too
many regulations which had interfered in their businesses. The Wagner Act made
sure that all workers had the right to join a trade union and allowed unions to
negotiate with employers for better wages and working conditions. The act made it
illegal to sack workers for being union members and set up a National Labor
Relations Board to ensure all employers and trade unions acted correctly. In 1938,
the Fair Labor Standards Act set a minimum wage and introduced rules about
working conditions and hours.
Another factor of the New Deal that helped Americans was the Works Progress
Administration, which was set up in 1935. Its aim was to provide short-term
employment for unskilled workers, mainly in construction projects. It extended this
work by finding jobs for office workers and even unemployed actors, artists and
photographers. For example, the Federal Arts Project paid unemployed artists to
produce posters, murals and paintings for buildings such as schools, hospitals and
libraries. By the tie the WPA shut down in 1943 it had provided eight million jobs.
However, there were ways in which the New Deal did not help all Americans. For
example, the New Deal did not benefit all black Americans. By 1935, around 3 million
black Americans were working for New Deal agencies such as the CCC and the TVA
and many black families were provided with new homes when slum areas were
cleared as part of New Deal projects. However, many of the agencies discriminated
against black Americans, they either got not wages or no work at all. Some
employers sacked black Americans rather than give them better pay and conditions.
The NRA were even given nicknames such as ‘Negro Run Around’ and ‘Negro
Removal Act’. In fear of losing support of the democrats, Roosevelt failed to pass
laws against lynching.
Another example is the role of women. The New Deal did see women achieve
prominent positions, like Eleanor Roosevelt who became an important campaigner
on social issues. However, the New Deal programs and agencies were mainly aimed
at male manual workers rather than women. Large numbers of women worked in
domestic service such as cooks, cleaners or maids. These jobs were not covered by
the New Deal agencies such as the NRA.
Overall, I believe after the New Deal had more of a benefit on America’s economy
after the Wall Street Crash as it had provided a huge amount of jobs for the millions
that were unemployed. But I also believe it didn’t have a great effect on America’s
society, as black Americans continued to face discrimination and women against
sexism.
