The New Deal and the 2nd World War.
First new deal
Second new deal
The USA before the war
The 2nd World War
United Nations
First New Deal (Новый курс).
Franklin Roosevelt.
Comprises a series of economic measures. Roosevelt managed to bring a sense of self-confidence to the country. The main idea: the government had to interfere, esp. in the economy.
Hasty measures during the 1st 100 days. The 1st acts were not well thought-of. Some of them were unconstitutional.
2 parts
1933-1934
1935-1936
25% of the working population was unemployed. The banking system was a disaster, industry was in the state of collapse. Farmers produced too much, no one wanted to buy their production. The prices were extremely law.
Roosevelt created jobs for the sake of jobs in order to avoid the wave of criminal activities.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) – 1933 – brought relief to young men aged 20-25. Environmental
Programs (The tree army). Successful program. The wages of the workers – 30$.
The Public Works Administration – January 1925. 3,5 mln. People were employed. Projects for skilled workers. Within the 1st year people constructed 200500 hospitals, 600000 schools, 13000 playgrounds, a lot of airport fields. People got jobs, the infrastructure improved. 11 billion $ to the economy. PWA paid attention to the cultural problems.
The Civil Works Administration included a lot of small scale projects for civil servants and unskilled workers. People built, repaired, taught, painted.
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration gave direct payments to the unemployed.
Banking sphere. The government adopted a policy of moderate currency inflation to start an upward movement of prices. Insurance measures were taken.
Agriculture. Prices were too low, farmers produced too much. 1933 – The Agricultural Adjustment Act was passed. The government wanted the farmers to produce fewer goods, to cut back the production in exchange for subsidies from the government. Some industries that used crops had to pay a tax (subsidies). 600 mln. Farmers participated.
The Act helped only partly, because there were droughts and many farmers merged in cooperation.
Industry. In 1933 – the National Recovery Administration was aimed at recovery of industry. Codes of fair practices. These codes would allow the government to set prices, production limits, minimum wages and maximum working hours. The government encouraged workers to join labor unions. To end labour conflicts, overproduction, to end overproduction. 22 million workers partook. This program was declared unconstitutional.
Roosevelt lacked social rforms, gave a lot of money to the banks.
The 2nd new deal.
1935 – the Social Security Act provided state administered payments to the unemployed, poor and disabled. A fund was created (employers and employees contributed) for the pensions for the elderly.
The tax on wealth.
The Banking Act let the Federal Reserve Board control large private banks.
1935, 27th of May (Black Monday) – Supreme Court declared the NRA and other acts unconstitutional, the minimum wage law was invalid. Roosevelt was aghast.
The Prohibition of child labour, the limits of wages and working hours remained.
The country did not recover in full.
The USA before the war.
Non-involvement policy. 1939 – the USA kept neutrality. In the middle of 1940 isolation supported minority. The 1st meeting in Newfoundland of Roosevelt and Churchill. The USA got the right to use naval and air spaces in Newfoundland in exchange for battleships (destroyers).
1941 – the Program of Lend Lease (transfer arms to the warring nations). 50 billion dollars.
1941 – the USA entered the war. 7th December Japan attacked pearl harbor because of an embargo imposed by the USA. Japan destroyed a part of American ships. 8th of December The USA declared a war on Japan.
The 2nd WW cost 1 million casualties, 300000 deaths. But the problem of unemployment and agriculture as well as industry was solved.
The main events. America in 1943 took part in the operation in Italy, in the Overlord in June 1944.
In 1942 Japan occupied Guam and the Phillippines. The USA tried to bomb Tokyo. May 1945 – tha battle of the Coral Sea. The battle of the Midway – the Japanese were defeated (a turning point). The USA in 1944 got the Phillippines back.
The Manhattan project – the 1st atomic bomb was tested. Truman wanted to end the war and involve the USSR in the war in Japan. In 1944 there was a reaction against the Japanese immigrants because of Pearl Harbor. 19th Feb. Roosevelt ordered to create camps for the Japanese thus forcing them to leave their homes. In 1944 it was declared unconstitutional. The camps were removed. The USA for a long time did not recognize the oppression till the 80s.
The UN.
Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill created the UN in 1945.
The main body – the General Assembly – every member has one vote. It has the right to recommend, but not to order.
The Security Council. 10 members are elected every 2 years. Has the right to order.
The International Court of Justice in the Hague. 15 judges, majority vote.
The Secretariat (Secretary General elected every 5 years and his staff). It runs the UN.
There are a lot of committees (Human and Women rights) and social departments (UNESCO, WTO)