7.10 The New Deal

The New Deal was FDR’s broad set of federal programs (often split into the First and Second New Deal) launched after 1933 to respond to the Great Depression. Its three goals were relief for the needy (CCC, WPA), economic recovery (NRA, TVA), and structural reform to prevent future collapses (FDIC, SEC, Social Security, Wagner Act). Roosevelt created it because banks were failing, unemployment topped ~25%, and markets had collapsed—the federal government stepped in to stabilize the economy and restore confidence. The New Deal didn’t fully end the Depression (World War II boosted recovery), but it created lasting regulatory agencies and a new political coalition that linked many working-class, ethnic, and African American voters to the Democratic Party (CED KC-7.1.III.A, KC-7.1.III.C). For AP review, focus on relief/recovery/reform examples and long-term political realignment (see the topic study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D). Practice questions: https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history.

Roosevelt’s New Deal tried to fix the Depression through three goals: relief (immediate help), recovery (restart the economy), and reform (prevent future collapses). Early programs (First New Deal) gave jobs and income—Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) put millions to work; the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) modernized a distressed region. Recovery efforts included the National Recovery Administration (NRA) to boost industry. Reform created lasting safety nets and regulation: Social Security, the Wagner Act (pro-labor), the SEC for markets, and FDIC to protect bank deposits. Conservatives and the Supreme Court limited some steps; radicals pushed for bigger change. The New Deal didn’t fully end the Depression (WWII did), but it reshaped federal power, created regulatory agencies, and realigned many voters to the Democrats. For AP review, use the Topic 7.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Short answer: the New Deal eased suffering and restructured how government worked, but it didn’t fully end the Great Depression because it didn’t restore full private-sector employment or remove deep structural problems in the economy. FDR’s relief (WPA, CCC), recovery (NRA, TVA), and reform (Social Security, SEC, FDIC) stabilized banks, created jobs, and changed expectations—but private investment stayed weak, unemployment remained high through the 1930s, and many programs were limited by budgets, conservative opposition, and Supreme Court rulings. Radical movements and labor pressure pushed for bigger reforms (CED KC-7.1.III.B), while political and legal limits constrained scope. Ultimately it was the massive demand and full mobilization of World War II—not New Deal spending alone—that finally brought sustained full employment. For AP writing, use specific New Deal programs as evidence, explain continuity/change, and connect to the war mobilization in your causation analysis (see the Topic 7.10 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D and Unit 7 overview: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7). For extra practice, try problems at (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Short answer: The First New Deal (1933–34) focused on immediate relief and short-term recovery—stopping bank runs, creating jobs, and stabilizing agriculture and industry. Think CCC, TVA, NRA, AAA, FDIC, and the SEC. The Second New Deal (1935–36) shifted toward long-term reform and social welfare plus stronger support for labor: Social Security, the WPA, the Wagner (NLRA) Act, and expanded relief and taxation measures. Politically, the Second New Deal responded to pressure from left-wing and union movements and helped create the New Deal coalition; legally and politically it also provoked conservative pushback and Supreme Court battles. For AP exam tasks, you should be ready to compare purposes, list examples from each phase, and explain their differing impacts on politics, economy, and society (CED KC-7.1.III.A–C). Review the Topic 7.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D) and try practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

The “three R’s” were FDR’s simple plan to respond to the Great Depression: relief, recovery, and reform. - Relief = immediate help for people suffering (jobs, food, cash). Examples: CCC, WPA, direct aid to the unemployed. - Recovery = jump-start the economy so businesses and farms begin producing and hiring again (short-term programs like the National Recovery Administration and public works to boost demand). - Reform = change rules so the economy won’t fail the same way again (longer-term laws and agencies: Social Security, FDIC, SEC, Wagner Act, TVA). On the AP exam, you should link these R’s to the First vs. Second New Deal, the New Deal coalition, and debates over scope (conservative limits, court challenges)—common DBQ/LEQ/SAQ angles (CED KC-7.1.III.A, KC-7.1.III.B, KC-7.1.III.C). For a quick topic review, see the New Deal study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D) and practice 1,000+ AP questions at (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

The Supreme Court struck down key New Deal programs in 1935–36, arguing many went beyond constitutional powers. Important rulings: Schechter Poultry Co. v. United States (1935) invalidated the National Recovery Administration for exceeding Congress’s commerce-clause power and for unlawful delegation of legislative authority; United States v. Butler (1936) struck parts of the Agricultural Adjustment Act as an improper use of taxing/spending; several other cases limited federal reach. Conservatives on the Court used doctrines (narrow commerce clause, anti-delegation) to limit New Deal reforms. FDR responded with his 1937 “court-packing” plan to add justices—politically unpopular but it pressured the Court; after 1937 the Court began upholding more New Deal legislation (the “switch in time” shift). For AP review, focus on separation-of-powers conflicts, key cases, the court-packing reaction, and how this shaped New Deal legacy (see the Topic 7.10 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D). Practice related questions at Fiveable (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

The New Deal used relief, recovery, and reform to respond to the Depression. Key programs: the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) put 2.5 million young men to work on conservation projects (relief + public works); the Works Progress Administration (WPA) hired millions for large-scale jobs—roads, schools, arts—and supported organized labor (relief/recovery); the Social Security Act (1935) created old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid for dependent children (reform). Together they expanded federal power in the economy, helped many urban workers and ethnic groups join the Democratic New Deal coalition, and left lasting institutions (e.g., Social Security, labor protections) even though the New Deal didn’t fully end the Depression (CED KC-7.1.III.A, KC-7.1.III.C). For review, see the Topic 7.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D), the Unit 7 overview (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7), and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Radical groups (Communists, Socialists) and militant unions pressured FDR by exposing limits of the First New Deal and demanding bolder relief, labor rights, and wealth redistribution. Large strikes (e.g., 1934 general strikes, sit-down strikes by CIO organizers) and mass popular campaigns made unemployment and labor unrest politically urgent. Organized labor’s push for collective bargaining helped produce the Wagner Act (1935) and the National Labor Relations Board—key Second New Deal reforms. Left critics and the 1934 midterm gains convinced Roosevelt that a more redistributive agenda could stabilize politics, so he backed Social Security (1935), the Works Progress Administration expansions, and pro-labor policies. For AP exam prep, be ready to connect these pressures to KC-7.1.III.B (radical, union, and populist movements pushing for deeper change) and to use specific examples as evidence in short-answer or essay responses (see the Topic 7.10 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D). For more practice, try questions at https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history.

Long-term effects: The New Deal permanently expanded the federal government's role in the economy and society. Programs and agencies (Social Security, WPA, CCC, TVA, SEC, FDIC, Wagner Act) created a regulatory and welfare state that set expectations for federal relief, labor protections, banking/market regulation, and public works. Politically, the New Deal produced a durable New Deal coalition—urban ethnic voters, African Americans (shifted toward Democrats), and organized labor—that reshaped party politics for decades. It also normalized deficit spending and active fiscal policy as tools to manage downturns. The Court fights and conservative pushback limited some changes but didn’t erase the institutional legacy. On the AP exam you might see prompts asking you to “explain how” or “evaluate” these long-term impacts in a LEQ or DBQ—use specific agencies, legislation, and political realignment as evidence (see the Topic 7.10 study guide for review) (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D). For more practice, check Fiveable’s Unit 7 overview and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7; https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

The New Deal built a new Democratic coalition by using federal relief, jobs, and reforms to help groups hit hardest by the Depression. As the CED notes, many ethnic immigrants, working-class voters, labor unions, and—crucially—African Americans began identifying with Democrats because programs like the WPA, Social Security (limited at first), and pro-labor policies offered tangible help and power (New Deal coalition; KC-7.1.III.C). Urban Catholics and Jews and northern working-class voters shifted away from the Republicans, while business, wealthier voters, and many small-town/rural conservatives trended Republican. Southern whites largely stayed Democratic in this era (the “Solid South”), helping Democrats dominate national politics through the 1930s–40s. That long-term realignment is a common AP LEQ/DBQ topic—use the New Deal coalition, WPA/CCC, Social Security, and Wagner Act as evidence (see the Topic 7.10 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D). For more review and practice, check Unit 7 (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7) and the practice problems (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Short answer: It did both. The New Deal provided real relief and reshaped politics for many African Americans—WPA and other programs gave jobs, the New Deal coalition nudged many Black voters toward the Democratic Party, and federal agencies increased visibility of federal responsibility for economic welfare (CED keywords: WPA, Social Security Act, New Deal coalition). But many programs were discriminatory in design and implementation: the CCC and other agencies often enforced segregated camps or lower wages for Black workers; agricultural and domestic workers (large shares of Black labor) were left out of early Social Security and minimum-wage protections; local administration in the South often denied full benefits. That complexity—both help and discrimination—is a good evidence/analysis point for AP short-answer or LEQ responses. For review, see the Topic 7.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D) and Unit 7 overview (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7). Practice applying this for exam prompts at (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Start with a clear thesis that answers the prompt (Yes/No/Partial) and sets a line of reasoning—e.g., “The New Deal was partially successful: it provided relief and lasting reform but didn’t fully end the Depression.” Contextualize briefly: Great Depression severity, 1932 election, FDR’s First vs. Second New Deal (CED keywords: AAA, CCC, WPA, NRA, TVA, Social Security, SEC, FDIC, Wagner Act). Plan paragraphs by analytic categories (relief, recovery, reform, political effects). Use at least four documents to support claims and bring in one specific outside fact (e.g., WWII’s role in ending the Depression, or the 1935 Social Security Act). For two documents, explain POV/purpose/audience (sourcing). Address counterarguments (conservative critiques, Supreme Court resistance, limits for African Americans/tenant farmers) to show complexity. Conclude by weighing long-term successes (regulatory legacy, New Deal coalition) vs. failures (full economic recovery). Practice DBQ skills with the Topic 7.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D), unit review (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7), and 1000+ AP practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

Short answer: the New Deal and WWII migration are linked through economic push and pull plus a bigger federal role in the economy. New Deal programs (WPA, TVA, Social Security) provided relief and built infrastructure, slowing rural collapse but not fully ending unemployment. That partial recovery plus Dust Bowl displacement pushed many people off farms. Then WWII’s massive demand for war production created millions of well-paid factory jobs concentrated in cities and on the coasts, so people—especially African Americans and rural migrants—moved to urban centers for work. On the AP exam, you can connect KC-7.1 (New Deal relief/reform) to KC-7.2 (wartime labor demand → urban migration) to show causation and continuity/change. For more review, see the Topic 7.10 New Deal study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

They wanted to limit the New Deal because it stretched federal power, disrupted free-market practices, and threatened established constitutional limits. Conservative members of Congress (and business leaders) saw many programs—large spending, job programs (WPA), regulation (NRA, SEC), and Social Security—as moving the U.S. toward permanent government intervention in the economy. They argued for states’ rights, balanced budgets, and protection of private enterprise, and some used constitutional objections (and the Supreme Court agreed in cases striking down the NRA and parts of the AAA). Political worry also mattered: conservatives feared a lasting Democratic realignment and expanded executive power, so they pushed back to preserve conservative legal and economic norms. This tension between reformers and conservatives is central to KC-7.1.III.B and shows up on AP tasks (MCQs, LEQs, DBQs). For a focused review, see the Topic 7.10 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D) and try practice problems (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).

The New Deal greatly expanded the federal government's role by moving it from mostly laissez-faire to an active provider, regulator, and employer. FDR’s “relief, recovery, reform” programs put the government directly into people’s lives: Social Security created a federal safety net; the WPA and CCC put millions to work on public projects; the TVA built regional infrastructure and managed resources; the SEC and FDIC regulated finance and protected bank deposits; the Wagner Act strengthened labor rights. Agencies used federal power to stabilize markets, create jobs, and guarantee basic welfare—shifting expectations so Americans looked to Washington for economic security and management of crises. That legacy appears often on AP questions (short answers, DBQs, LEQs)—use the Topic 7.10 study guide for targeted review (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-us-history/unit-7/new-deal/study-guide/O8bvpnFSbBfiQMHlcl4D) and practice hundreds of problems at (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-us-history).