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The New Deal Era

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The New Deal era from the early 1930s to the beginning of the 1980s, was marked by constant change and political and economic upheaval. During this era in American history, politics and how government was ran became a national issue. For the first time in American history, the federal government was responsible for providing for its citizens through government programs like Social Security. It was through this assistance that the idea of American-economic independence was gone and a quasi-welfare state was created. Gone were the days of private businesses and charities giving out assistances and the federal government now provides for those that cannot provide for themselves. It is also during this period of the New Deal that the reemergence …show more content…

The New Deal still affects us today and provides for us as things like Social Security are still around. The New Deal era was marked by rapid changes, from its origins of the industrial revolution and progressive era, to the rise of the welfare-state in America, and its limited effect on blacks and eventually diminishment by conservatives and big business.
The origins of the New Deal can be seen as rooted throughout the industrial revolution and the progressive reforms that came before it. To understand the New Deal, it is important to understand the US before the depression, and to understand the progressive era in American history. The industrial revolution produced large amounts of economic growth for the nation and brought it into the international spotlight as a major world power. This economic growth was centered in the cities and urban areas that now swelled at the seams with people. The large migration into the US continued during this period and New York City grew to 4.7 million people in 1910. These cities were examples of how urban expansion can be harmful. Muckrakers, or journalists who wrote articles, books, or even took photographs, …show more content…

There are several accomplishments that can be felt however and that are not as seen in day to day life. The economic thinking of John Maynard Keynes came into the forefront as the proper way of dealing with economics and the economy. Keynes actually met with FDR in the mid-1930s and found that government spending was the key to solving the problems of the Great Depression. Keynes suggested that if businesses were not willing to spend money to reinvest in the economy, then the government should. This was something that Herbert Hoover would never have done while President. This change from relying on businesses to help during an economic downturn and instead relying on the federal government was truly revolutionary in political-economic thought. FDR was also quick in moving legislation through Congress in order to help in recovery and did so on many occasions. FDR’s biggest task on the road to recovery was to help reestablish the banking system in the US. FDR did this by declaring a bank holiday and by passing the Emergency Banking Act which gave money in order to protect banks. This direct intervention in the banking system came about from the bank holiday that Roosevelt declared shortly after taking office. FDR continued federal spending by creating public works projects that helped develop or improve roads, bridges, parks,

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