How successful was the New Deal?
The New Deal was successful in many aspects yet equally or more unsuccessful in others.
However I believe the most defining flaw of the New Deal was the lack of unemployment
numbers significantly declining.
In-between the period of Roosevelt winning the election (November 1932) to him taking office in (March 1933) there was a banking crisis and confidence in the banks was low. Roosevelt ordered a 4 day bank holiday where specially trained officials inspected them meticulously. Only banks which were ok were allowed to re open, this dramatically improved people’s confidence in the banks. No bank went under during Roosevelt’s presidency.
Although most of the Alphabet agencies FDR set up were failures the Social Security act was not. It was a national pension system for people over 65, widows and the disabled. It also gave unemployed people benefits. This was a much needed system in America, although it was one that had been present in many European countries for many years.
The Wagner act can also be seen as a success although it caused trouble at the time. It gave all American workers the right to join trade unions. Many big business men such as Henry Ford were angry about this and workers went on often violent marches and strikes. However the workers eventually won and were allowed to join trade unions. This helped put an end to unfair wages and working conditions.
Alphabet agencies such as the civil works administration created over 4 million jobs in building or improving roads, schools, hospitals, airports and other public buildings. Although this was a short term solution as all of the jobs went in the 1933-34 winter, it gave people necessary skills to find other work and improved many public buildings and roads.
However the New Deal was also very unsuccessful. Roosevelt’s Alphabet agencies were what he considered to be the way to get the U.S.A out of depression, however the Supreme Court declared that 13 of...