The New Deal - Radical or Conservative?

The New Deal. Radical? Or Conservative?

HIE 314B

Dr. Brushett

OCdt Carr 23439

The New Deal was introduced to the United Sates by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in order to provide immediate relief to the dying economy. The introduction of the New Deal came at a turning point in American politics. After World War I and the crash of the stock market, the American public felt that the government, considered too progressive at the time, was unable to handle the situation. The Hoover administration maintained little presence in economic affairs. FDR's administration sharply changed this dilemma with the implementation of the New Deal. Relief, reform and recovery were the three components, also known as the three R's which constitute the bulk of the New Deal.

The overall effectiveness of the New Deal can be debated. For the most part, its immediate effects caused an even greater recession in the economy. However, the initiatives and motives were in the right place and many of the original institutions and agencies still exist today. In general, many of the changes FDR made were for the benefit of the people. His concepts changed the role of government, not just in Washington but in most of the states. FDR introduced the use of university trained exports into most national agencies in order to increase productivity and the overall intelligence of the foundations. One of the more significant changes was the initiative to regulate large corporations and to hold them accountable to the consumer. From this spawned many key administrations, also known as the alphabet soup. Perhaps, one of the most important initiatives was the introduction of a new social rights system to replace the overall dependence of private charity. The Social Security Act of 1935 created America's first national system of old age pension and a form of unemployment insurance. FDR also introduced the notion of minorities in government. He held more Catholic and Jewish members in his government than any previous administration, including the first female cabinet member, Francis Perkins. Although FDR instituted many radical and liberal transformations, it was known that he was very cautious of public opinion. This sensitivity to judgment and fear of radicalism hindered his overall effectiveness of liberalism and experimentalism which was a key ingredient for the success of the new liberal American economy.

Some of the constraints of the New Deal conclude that it was too inconsistent, it appealed more to the 'deserving poor' and it failed to live up to standards. Although the initiative of corporate control was to assist in economic growth and provide more opportunity to the poor, it in fact became more harmful to the majority of labouring class. The National Recovery Administration became known to labourers as the 'National Run Around' as it provided little to no relief to the workers. In fact, it placed more aggression into an already heated battle of unionism. The NRA increased the power of large industries and injured small businesses.

Although government attempted to act as a mediator of interest, it was generally the servant of powerful groups. The problem was that the New Deal state was too loose and some of FDR's administrators were pushing the government in their own direction,