Apush Dbq Research Paper

1. Describe the challenges faced by Franklin Roosevelt upon entering office in 1933.
The challenges faced by Franklin Roosevelt upon entering office in 1933 began with the Banking Crisis that led to the Emergency Banking Act to assist with funding for financial institution and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to secure the funds being deposited in the US citizens account. The FDIC helped our financial economy overcome the failure of banks after 1936. As for Government jobs, the Civilian Conservative Corps (CCC) granted employment by way of forest preservation, flood control, improving national parks and wildlife preserves (Foner 805). The New Deal and housing was best expressed by Walt Whitman who believed it is impossible
for a man to be complete with the absence of the ownership of a house and the land it resides upon. As a result, the Home Owners Loan Corporation and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) was later formed to insure the private institutions with short-term and long-term mortgages; nonetheless, it failed to end the Depression amongst the US citizens (Foner 809). During the Grassroots Revolt, the National Recovery Act and Wagner Act aided in the contribution to workers forming unions regarding their fight to fair work practices, better conditions, and competitive wages. In addition, Frances Perkins described himself and his coworkers as “slaves of the depression” meaning they viewed the owners of the company as more of an oppressor rather than an employer (Foner 811). Contrarily, the United Auto Workers (UAI) were successful during a sit down at a plant leading to negotiation with Henry Ford’s labor contract; this would not play out the same with Unions opposing smaller companies. The greatest contribution that occurred prior to the Second New Deal was a man by the name of Huey Long. He believed every American should have been recognized as a “Kingfish”; thus, he planned to take funds of rich Americans to secure a $5,000 grant, guaranteed job, and annual income for all US citizens prior to him being assassinated the following year (Foner 814). The final step that affected Roosevelt entering office was the radio with Father Charles E. Coughlin; hence, Coughlin has influenced his listeners to oppose the First New Deal in which he considered a failure (Foner 815).
2. Explain whether you believe Roosevelt was successful or unsuccessful in handling the country’s economic crisis during his first two terms in office.
Roosevelt was unsuccessful in handling the country’s economic crisis during his first two terms in office.
Although the Works Progress Administration (WPA) employed many out of work white collar employees and professionals it was only a temporary fix for permanent issue (Foner 816). Furthermore, the Wagner Act did attempt to protect the union workers from being terminated and blackballed by owners but, these higher wages through union representation were not fulfilled as promised. On the other hand, the Second New Deal did implement Social Security System that were only beneficial to the White men in the labor force meaning it excluded African Americans, Indians, immigrants, and all women. Nevertheless, this was the first time the Government were considered responsible for the financial wellbeing of the US citizen throughout their lifespan (Foner 818). The New Deal discriminated against women economically; hence, the Economy Act of 1933 made it unlawful for a husband and wife to concurrently hold a federal job position in order to secure a position for White males in the labor force. Surprisingly, the New Deal had chosen to discontinue the Dawes Act of 1887 and ignored Indian concerns while forcing them to reduce the herds they relied on for survival. As Mexican Americans, the New Deal had them claiming to be White Americans in order to not be discriminated against like those of African American decent. Speaking of African Americans, they continued to get the bottom
of bottom. The last hired, las fired rule left the African Americans unemployed and at an economic downturn back at square one. Federal discrimination resulted from programs such as the Federal Housing Administration; these companies exclusively granted loans by private banks and real-estate companies to White males and excluded African Americans, Indians, immigrants, and all women. Roosevelt did find necessary for the Beer and Wine Revenue Act to revive the economy yet, what about the legal inequities that were taking place regarding African Americans in US? It seemed like a slap in the face to those who built the economy of the South; which led to economic progression nationwide, to not be represented appropriately in during legal matters moving forward in the New Deal. Hence, the “Scottsboro boys” and other African Americans that were falsely accused of misdeeds against White Americans.