The First New Deal- Success and Failure Quizlet
What Was the First New Deal?
The First New Deal refers to the first wave of Franklin D. Roosevelt's economic recovery programs, launched between 1933 and 1934. It was a direct response to the Great Depression—nothing abstract, nothing theoretical. Banks were failing, unemployment hit 25%, and farmers were losing their land. FDR threw everything at the problem at once.
The goal was relief, recovery, and reform. The "3 Rs" you'll see on any quiz or test. But here's what most study guides skip: many of these programs failed, conflicted with each other, or got struck down by the Supreme Court. The First New Deal was messy. It was experimental. And it didn't work as planned.
Major Programs of the First New Deal
Here are the key agencies and laws you need to know:
- CCC - Civilian Conservation Corps (1933): Paid young men to work on conservation projects. It actually worked reasonably well.
- AAA - Agricultural Adjustment Administration (1933): Paid farmers to reduce production to raise prices. It faced massive criticism and was later ruled unconstitutional.
- NRA - National Recovery Administration (1933): Set industry codes for fair competition. Also ruled unconstitutional in 1935.
- TVA - Tennessee Valley Authority (1933): Built dams and provided electricity to one of the poorest regions in America. One of the genuine successes.
- PWA - Public Works Administration (1933): Funded massive construction projects. Slow to start but built real infrastructure.
- HOLC - Home Owners' Loan Corporation (1933): Refinanced mortgages to prevent foreclosures. Worked as intended.
- FDIC - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (1933): Insured bank deposits. Still exists today.
- SEC - Securities and Exchange Commission (1934): Regulated the stock market. Still exists today.
First New Deal Successes and Failures
Let's be clear about what worked and what didn't. Don't let study guides glaze over this.
What Actually Worked
The banking reforms were the clearest win. The Emergency Banking Act stabilized the financial system within days. FDR's fireside chats restored public confidence. The FDIC still insures your deposits. The SEC still regulates Wall Street.
The CCC was popular because it put money in people's pockets fast. The TVA brought electricity to rural areas that private companies wouldn't touch. These programs had visible, tangible results.
What Failed
The AAA was a disaster in execution. It paid farmers to destroy crops while millions went hungry. Black farmers received almost no benefits. The Supreme Court killed it in United States v. Butler (1936).
The NRA was worse. It created a bureaucratic nightmare of industry codes. Big businesses often wrote codes that benefited themselves. The NRA's blue eagle symbol became a joke. The Supreme Court struck it down in Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States (1935)—this case also limited FDR's ability to regulate commerce.
First New Deal Programs Comparison Table
| Program | Year | Purpose | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCC | 1933 | Conservation work for young men | Ended 1942 |
| AAA | 1933 | Reduce farm production, raise prices | Unconstitutional (1936) |
| NRA | 1933 | Industry codes and fair competition | Unconstitutional (1935) |
| TVA | 1933 | Regional development, electricity | Still active |
| PWA | 1933 | Public construction projects | Ended 1943 |
| HOLC | 1933 | Mortgage refinancing | Ended 1951 |
| FDIC | 1933 | Bank deposit insurance | Still active |
| SEC | 1934 | Stock market regulation | Still active |
Why the First New Deal Matters for Your Quiz
If you're studying this for a history class, here's what teachers actually test:
- The Emergency Banking Act and the bank holiday (March 1933)
- The glass-steagall act (created FDIC)
- The National Industrial Recovery Act (created NRA—later struck down)
- The Schechter Poultry case (Supreme Court ended NRA)
- The Butler case (Supreme Court ended AAA)
- Why the First New Deal was less successful than the Second New Deal
Teachers love asking about the Supreme Court cases. Schechter Poultry is the big one—it limited Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce. Study that case specifically.
How to Study the First New Deal on Quizlet
Here's a practical approach:
- Search for existing sets using terms like "First New Deal programs," "CCC NRA AAA," or "New Deal Supreme Court cases." Thousands of sets exist.
- Focus on the distinction between relief programs (immediate help), recovery programs (economic growth), and reform programs (long-term changes).
- Memorize the acronyms with full names and years. You'll see CCC, AAA, NRA, PWA, TVA, HOLC, FDIC, SEC constantly.
- Know which programs survived and which were struck down. FDIC and SEC are still around. AAA and NRA are gone.
- Study the court cases if your class covers the constitutional issues. That's usually where teachers probe deeper.
The Bottom Line
The First New Deal stabilized the banking system and provided immediate relief. But it overreached. The Supreme Court blocked the two biggest programs (AAA and NRA) by 1936. FDR responded with the Second New Deal, which focused more on labor rights and social welfare—and passed more successfully because it used tax and spending powers the Court couldn't touch.
For your quiz: know the programs, know the acronyms, know the two Supreme Court cases that killed the main programs, and know why the First New Deal was considered less successful than what came after. 📚