key term - New Deal Era

Definition

The New Deal era refers to the period in United States history during the 1930s when President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented a series of economic and social programs aimed at addressing the challenges of the Great Depression. This era was marked by a significant expansion of the federal government's role in regulating the economy and providing a social safety net for citizens.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The New Deal era began with the inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 and lasted until the early 1940s.
2. The primary goals of the New Deal were to provide relief, recovery, and reform for the American people during the Great Depression.
3. The New Deal led to the creation of numerous federal agencies and programs, such as the Social Security Administration, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
4. The New Deal's policies and programs aimed to increase government regulation of the economy, provide jobs and economic security for citizens, and promote social welfare.
5. The New Deal era is considered a significant expansion of the federal government's role in the economy and the lives of American citizens, laying the foundation for the modern administrative state.

Review Questions

• Explain how the New Deal era influenced the evolution of public administration in the United States.
  • The New Deal era significantly expanded the role of the federal government in public administration. The creation of numerous New Deal agencies and programs, such as the Social Security Administration and the Works Progress Administration, led to a significant growth in the size and scope of the federal bureaucracy. This expansion of the administrative state was necessary to implement the New Deal's economic and social policies, which aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression. The New Deal era also marked a shift towards a more active and interventionist role for the federal government in regulating the economy and providing a social safety net for citizens, which had lasting impacts on the evolution of public administration in the United States.
• Analyze the influence of Keynesian economic theory on the policies and programs of the New Deal era.
  • The New Deal era was heavily influenced by the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes, which advocated for increased government intervention and spending to stimulate economic growth and employment. Keynesian economics, with its emphasis on the role of the government in managing the economy, was a significant departure from the prevailing laissez-faire economic policies of the pre-Depression era. The New Deal's policies, such as the creation of public works programs, the regulation of the financial sector, and the establishment of a social safety net, were all aligned with Keynesian principles of using government spending and intervention to promote economic recovery and stability. This shift towards a more active and interventionist role for the federal government in the economy was a key aspect of the evolution of public administration during the New Deal era.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the New Deal era on the relationship between the federal government and American citizens.
  • The New Deal era fundamentally transformed the relationship between the federal government and American citizens. By expanding the government's role in providing economic security, social welfare, and regulatory oversight, the New Deal era laid the foundation for the modern administrative state and the increased involvement of the federal government in the daily lives of citizens. This shift towards a more active and interventionist government was a significant departure from the previous laissez-faire approach, and it had lasting implications for the role of public administration in addressing societal challenges. The New Deal's programs, such as Social Security and the Tennessee Valley Authority, demonstrated the government's ability to improve the lives of citizens and address pressing economic and social issues. This increased trust and reliance on the federal government has continued to shape the evolution of public administration and the expectations of the American people regarding the government's responsibilities and capabilities.

Related terms

Great Depression:

The severe economic downturn that occurred in the United States and globally during the 1930s, characterized by high unemployment, widespread poverty, and a collapse of the financial system.

New Deal Agencies: The various federal agencies and programs created during the New Deal era to address economic and social problems, such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Keynesian Economics:

An economic theory developed by John Maynard Keynes that advocated for increased government intervention and spending to stimulate economic growth and employment, which heavily influenced the policies of the New Deal era.