New Deal and American Society

Prior to the New Deal, America was in a time of crisis. The economy was in a deep depression and social tensions were at the boiling point. The United States underwent dramatic change in social and political ideology after FDR implemented the New Deal. This essay argues that the New Deal positively modified social, political, and labor beliefs of the American society. Social life prior to the New Deal can be described as very tense. White Males were considered the superior gender and the provider for the family. Meanwhile, white females were seen as less than equal and the keeper of the household. The division between male and female moved into the idea of private vs. public spheres, where women dealt mainly in the private sphere of the household, men dealt mainly in the public sphere of the business and politics. Females were prohibited from politics, because the public sphere of political participation became equated with manhood (Roark 448). These divisions among women and men created tension in society. Increased immigration only added to the overall tension in society. Altogether, more than twenty-five million immigrants came to the United States between 1850 and 1920 (Roark 464). Americans grew cruel towards the rising number of southern and eastern Europe immigrants entering into the U.S. They saw these immigrants as uneducated, uncouth, and primarily competition for jobs. Conflicting ethnic and religious difference among the immigrants also added to the social tension. All of these differences sorted itself out in major cities by social segregation, where most large cities had their China Town, Little Italy, etc. The immense amount of immigration also led to what is called the Red Scare, a high point in social fears of white Americans regarding an immigrant uprising. These fears escalated and on New Years day 1920, when suspected revolutionaries’ houses were raided and imprisoned, known as the Palmer Raids. As social tensions heightened, the political views on society were unwavering. President Coolidge stood fast to his idea of “Sovereign Spheres.“ He believed that government should not have oversight of business, to promote freedom. Coolidge concluded that voluntary partnership between business and the labor would solve their differences. The Supreme Court was Coolidge’s greatest ally when dealing with business and labor. It struck down child and minimum wage laws, and outlawed the formation of unions. President Hoover also had ideals similar to Coolidge. He called it the “American System,” where Laissez-Faire ruled. Hoover restricted great government intervention of social and labor issues and let business and labor workers fix differences among themselves, stating government help would destroy equality and opportunity (Giggie). Hoover believed in trickle down economics: pumping money into the economy at the top, and in the long run, the people at the bottom would benefit (Roark 587). These ideas of separation between government and society created even more social tension before the New Deal. While social and political tensions increased, labor tensions were increasing at tremendous rates as well. “Big Business” controlled all of the power over the working class because of the absence of government regulation. Workers had fifteen-hour workdays, little wages, and no benefits. Unemployment soared because of child labor and the mechanization of the workplace. Looking for change, laborers formed unions, such as the Knights of Labor, and created labor strikes. Examples of influential labor strikes include: The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the Hay Market Riot, both of which turned violent. These violent strikes led to the idea of radicalism, viewed as a great threat to America, and spread throughout with the news of the Bolshevik Revolution. Businesses and government were worried that the radical ideas would take root and the working class would revolt. This escalated the growing social tensions between society and politics. It was time for a change, and FDR would bring them the change they desired. The Stock Market Crash of October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday, symbolizes the start of the Great Depression. Likewise, the great Depression symbolizes the turning point in U.S. political ideology. Newly elected president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, would implement one of the greatest political shifts in American history. His platform was based around the idea that the federal government has moral and legal obligations to respond to the unemployed and underclasses (Giggie). His term for this change, The New Deal. In the first one hundred days, FDR set in place the (R, R, R): Relief, Recovery, and Reform. The Federal Emergency Relief Act as well as the Civilian Conservation Corps provided money and opportunity for food, housing, and jobs. The National Industrial Recovery Act forced businesses to negotiate with workers to create minimum wage and eight-hour workday. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured citizen’s money in banks up to $250,000. All of these acts were critical in the transformation of political beliefs. However, these acts didn’t please everyone. FDR’s New Deal faced many challenges soon after it’s initial establishment. Business owners were furious over the stricter business laws. Laborers didn’t want to just negotiate for their demands; they wanted them to be met right away. The Supreme Court declared the National Industrial Recovery Act illegal. The rural poor felt left out of the New Deal, since there was no aid for small farmers to secure access to land. They formed the first multi-race union, Southern Farmers Tenant Union, and disputed over their right to land. The main challenges that FDR’s New Deal faced came form the populists. Populist like Father Charles Coughlin, who demanded reform for the working class and their ability to form unions. Dr. Francis Townsend, Campaigned for a pension plan for older American citizens. FDR’s greatest threat came from Louisiana Senator Huey Long. Long successfully campaigned throughout the U.S. stating that America had to share the wealth by redistributing it through income taxes. Though his New Deal faced many challenges, FDR had a response for them. He titled his response the “Second New Deal.” The Works Project Administration created thousands of jobs and built infrastructure throughout the U.S. to help the unemployed. The Wagner Act gave workers the right to form unions to bargain collectively for reform. The Social Security Act created a pension plan for older American citizens, a direct response to Dr. Townsend’s proposal. FDR also established a new progressive income tax, in order to help redistribute wealth. Towards the end of the New Deal, the Farm Security Administration opened up loans for small farmers and federal grants to purchase land. Also, the National Housing Act became the first public housing project for the poor. Finally, the Fair-Labor Standards Act permanently established a minimum wage, forty-four hour workweek, and outlawed child labor. Roosevelt didn’t sit back and let society repair itself; he brought change through government involvement and protection. After the New Deal, societies view on government improved which help ease tensions. No longer did they have to fight on their own, the government obligated itself to protect and support its citizens. The great divide between politics and society had receded, and with a series of fireside chats, FDR forged a direct connection, via radio waves, between himself and millions of Americans (Roark 601). The grave labor situation has been settled with the government forcing businesses to answer the demands of labor unions and reform its practices. Roosevelt’s New Deal successfully brought America out of the depression and shifted the political ideology from “let it be” to government obligation to help its citizens. In conclusion, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal fundamentally reoriented the popular expectations of government, so that the government would be actively involved in the economy and society (Giggie). Positively modifying the social, political, and labor beliefs of the American society.