Guiding Questions For Chapter 28
Sections 3 and 4
1. After FDR had established several of his New Deal programs, critics started challenging his ideas. Identify three radical critics of Roosevelt’s New Deal programs and explain what their criticism was and how they proposed a solution. to those issues.
2. How did FDR’s Second New Deal program proposals differ from those of the First New Deal? How did he plan to ensure their success?
3. Identify and briefly explain how the work relief programs initiated in the Second New Deal dealt with unemployment. What was the purpose of the Social Security Act? What was its biggest flaw? How does the establishment of this act address the thesis of your research paper?
4. Why did FDR encourage the organizing of labor unions to help with the economic crisis? What acts helped with this idea? What was a major problem that the unions faced with this re-organization?
5. How did the successes of organized labor such as the CIO actually contribute to the increased success of FDR’s New Deal legislation and his victory in the 1936 election? What group abandoned their support and why?
6. After the election of 1936, FDR began to attack the Supreme Court for their actions. What was the justification for Roosevelt’ action and what was his proposed solution?
7. How did FDR’s idea of “using broad executive powers” actually become an issue that was used against him with the congressional elections of 1938? What was the end result?
8. What impact did the New Deal have on the domestic behaviors of Americans? What about gender roles?
9. How did minorities fair under Roosevelt’s programs? Any gains made, lost or changed?
10. Why were forms of mass media entertainment popular during the 1930’s?
11. What explanation can you provide in discussing the fact that despite not having any money to afford gas, people continued to buy and drive cars during the Great Depression?
12. What is the “lasting impact” of the New Deal? Relate your response to the theme of your research paper thesis.