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SOCIO-CULTURAL EVENT; Open Letter to President Herbert Hoover
“William Hodson, executive director of the New York City Welfare Council, addressed an open letter to President Herbert Hoover urging federal unemployment relief not as a matter of charity but as a matter of right” (Trattner, W., 1999, p. 275). It gave one a glimpse of the national mood and the respect they were demanding from the government. -
ECONOMIC EVENT: Stock Market Crash
The Stock Market Crash was a key economic event. Millions of workers lost their jobs. Banks closed, people lost life savings, and some lost their lives. Many stood in bread lines and ate at soup kitchens. (Trattner, W., 1999, p.273) -
Period: to
From the Stock Market Crash to the Social Security Act
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SOCIO-CULTURAL EVENT: State Unemployment Relief Act
New York State was the nation’s first to provide unemployment relief to its citizens in need. The Unemployment Relief Act (Wicks Act) was a major event as it established the constructive social value of adequate public relief. It helped transfer the attitude of demoralizing its recipients to recognizing it as a statewide social problem. (Trattner, W., 1999, p. 279) -
POLITICAL EVENT: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Assuming Presidency
He assumed the Presidency at the depth of the Great Depression. He brought hope, and vigorous action. In his Inaugural Address on March 4, 1933 he stated “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself” (White House.gov).
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/franklindroosevelt -
ECONOMIC EVENT: The Civilian Conservation Corps
The (C.C.C.) took thousands of unemployed men and put them to work on reforestation and flood and fire control. (Trattner, W., 1999, p. 282-283) This event impacted the economy in significant ways as it provided relief from destitution. -
POLITICAL EVENT: Federal Emergency Relief Act (F.E.R.A.)
It was one of the most important of the federal aid measures combating unemployment on a national level. It made millions of dollars available from federal funds to distribute to the states. This was to be used for emergency unemployment relief. Trattner, W., 1999, p. 284-285)
Picture: http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/fera/id/198 -
ECONOMIC EVENT: Banking Act of 1933; Glass-Steagall Act
On March 6, 1933, FDR declared a bank holiday, forbade all gold payments and exports. Three days later congress passed an emergency Banking Bill that supervised the reopening of banks and additional banking reform. (Stern, M., & Axinn, J., 2012, p. 169) This brought hope and eventually financial security to the citizens. -
POLITICAL EVENT: Civil Works Administration (CWA)
The best of the new deal welfare measures was the Civil Works Administration (CWA). This program put many people to work quickly. This program had no stigmatizing qualifying strings attached. It offered regular hours and going wages. (Trattner, W., 1999, p. 285) -
SOCIO-CULTURAL EVENT: Social Security Act
Through two lines of defense: a contributory social insurance and public assistance both aimed at preventing destitution. (Trattner, W., 1999, p. 293) The Social Security Act provided a foundation for recipients to stand on. It influenced the national mood, and the public perceptions in that at least something was being done for those in need.
