Racism in the New Deal

Racism in the New Deal

CCC

• The Great Depression struck in the 1930s. It was a big economic slowdown that affected the world.

• Many businesses closed. Millions of people were left without jobs. It was a hard time. African-Americans were especially hard hit.

Multiple Choice

What was the Great Depression?

• An economic shutdown that affected the entire world.

• A political issue between the U.S. and China.

• A racial issue.

• A education issue where people did not get the education they needed.

Multiple Choice

What does economic mean?

• Opinion about money.

• Opinion about government.

• Opinion about race.

• Opinion about international relations.

• In 1932, American voters elected Franklin D. Roosevelt as president. He was known as FDR. In 1933, he launched a program called the "New Deal."

• It was a national effort by the government. The New Deal included jobs programs. A main goal was to get people working.

Multiple Choice

The CCC put young, single men to work. They planted trees and built bridges and roads. Some learned a trade. Most lived in camps, working for food and shelter as well as modest pay. About 3 million men total were part of the CCC program from 1933-1942.

BASED ON THE DOCUMENT, WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE CCC?

• Building schools.

• Building railroad tracks.

• Take care of the environment through planting trees, building bridges/roads.

• Building houses.

• One of the biggest New Deal programs was the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC. It lasted from 1933-1942. The CCC put young, single men to work. The men lived in camps. They worked for food and shelter.

• They also received a little pay. About 3 million men served in the CCC program. About 250,000 of these workers were young African-American men. 

Multiple Choice

To a degree, Oxley's statement about black youth was true. What Oxley did not mention, however, was what the CCC failed to do. It did not challenge the widespread discrimination faced by African-Americans. As a rule, they were treated as second-class citizens in their own country.

BASED ON THE DOCUMENT ABOVE, WAS THERE STILL RACIAL INEQUALITY?

• Yes; "As a rule, they were treated as second-class citizens in their own."

• No; "As a rule, they were treated as second-class citizens in their own."

• At first, the CCC mainly helped whites. Slowly that changed. Over time, the CCC began to include more African-Americans. Workers for the CCC built roads and bridges. They planted trees. They also helped during emergencies.

• In 1937, huge floods hit the Midwest. Both black and white CCC workers came to help. They provided shelter and food to people in need.

Multiple Choice

When black and white men lived in the same CCC camp, officials separated them. Black workers were assigned to "colored only" tables in dining halls. In Vermont, 500 black CCC workers were barred from white-only classes. Young white men could study forestry and architectural drawing. They could learn land surveying. Blacks did not have the same opportunities.

BASED ON THE DOCUMENT, DID BLACKS HAVE EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY?

• Yes

• No

• Black CCC workers were often treated unfairly, though. They faced discrimination. In camps, blacks and whites had to live separately. Blacks had to eat at "colored only" tables.

• In Vermont, they could not attend white-only classes. There, young white men could study forestry. They learned land surveying. Blacks were not given the same opportunities.

Multiple Choice

Since Roosevelt needed the support of Southern Democrats to pass his New Deal agenda, he did not advocate for passage of a federal anti-lynching law or embrace efforts to ban the poll tax that prevented many African Americans from voting. Yet, the economic support received by African Americans under the New Deal solidified their newfound loyalty to the Democratic Party.

BASED ON THE DOUCMENT, HOW DID THE BLACK COMMUNITY RELATE TO FDR?

• FDR was handicapped.

• FDR kept the poll tax

Black Workers Were Treated Worse Than Whites

• This discrimination troubled African-Americans. They knew it was unfair. African-Americans were often treated as second-class citizens in their own country. This was true in the CCC, too.

• Still, many African-Americans appreciated the benefits of working with the CCC.

Blacks Voted For Roosevelt In The 1936 Election

• Still, many African-Americans appreciated the benefits of working with the CCC. It gave them new opportunities. Young men could gain new experiences and skills.

• They were able to help their families. This was important during the Great Depression. 

Multiple Choice

The CCC and other programs also resulted in a shift in American politics. The New Deal had taken shape under President Roosevelt. FDR was a Democrat. He generally ignored calls for racial equality. However, the New Deal did include blacks in its job and relief programs.

BASED ON THE DOUCMENT, DID ROOSEVELT ADVOCATE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY?

• Yes

• NO

CCC

• African-Americans supported President Roosevelt in the 1936 election. He was a Democrat. Most blacks had sided with the Republican Party before.

• They remembered, though, how the New Deal had helped them. Many voted for the Democratic president. FDR was re-elected in a landslide.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a New Deal Program?

• WPA

• CCC

• AAA

• SHA

New Deal and Supreme Court

• Nine justices sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, but this number has changed over time. Here's how the court ended up with nine justices.

Multiple Choice

How many supreme court justices are there?

• 1

• 2

• 9

• 7

Multiple Choice

If there are 9 supreme court justices, how many votes are needed for a majority? A MAJORITY WINS THE VOTE ON IF A LAW IS LEGAL OR ILLEGAL

• 2

• 4

• 5

• 9

Constitution

• The U.S. Constitution established the Supreme Court. It does not say how many justices should sit on the court. Congress established a Supreme Court with six justices in 1789. Congress also created district courts and circuit courts. Justices were responsible for circuit courts.

Multiple Choice

Did the Constitution say how many people should be the Supreme Court?

• Yes

• No

U.S. Constitution

• The U.S. Constitution established the Supreme Court. It does not say how many justices should sit on the court. Congress established a Supreme Court with six justices in 1789. Congress also created district courts and circuit courts. Justices were responsible for circuit courts.

• People quickly started to argue over the courts. Congress passed a new law in 1801. The law changed the number of justices from six to five. President John Adams signed the law after losing to Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson got rid of the law when he became president.

Multiple Choice

When Congress passed a law about the Supreme Court in 1801, what did it change?

• Changed the amount of justices on the Supreme Court from 6 to 5.

• Added Supreme Court justices to total 9.

• Abolished the Supreme Court altogether.

• Changed the amount of Supreme Court justices from 7 to 9.

Westward Expansion

• The U.S. expanded west over the next 70 years. New judicial districts and circuits were created. This added more justices to the Supreme Court. By 1837, there were nine justices in total.

• 
  

Multiple Choice

Why did the U.S. need to add more judges and courts?

• Because they needed to decide who was president.

• Because they needed to negotiate with other countries.

• Because they were expanded westward.

• Because they needed to decide how to address slavery.

SUPREME COURT

• The Supreme Court remained stable until the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln disagreed with the court's decisions. The Court had ruled that Black people were not and could not become U.S. citizens. This was the Dred Scott decision. Lincoln disagreed and wanted to reshape the Court. In 1863, many people settled in California. Lincoln added a 10th circuit court. This also added a 10th Supreme Court justice.

• Congress changed the courts after the Civil War. In 1865, Lincoln was assassinated. Andrew Johnson took over. Johnson was a Southern Democrat. Republicans in Congress worried about Johnson's influence on the Supreme Court. They passed a law reducing the Court to seven justices.

Multiple Choice

What was the Dred Scott decision?

• Supreme Court ruled that Abraham Lincoln could not be president.

• Supreme Court ruled that slavery was unconstitutional.

• Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. could not take any more land from the natives.

• Supreme Court ruled that slaves could not become citizens.

Multiple Choice

Did Abraham Lincoln agree with the Dred Scott decision?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Who took over as President after Lincoln was assassinated?

• Andrew Jackson

• Andrew Johnson

• Ulysses Grant

• Thomas Jefferson

Ulysses Grant

• In 1869, Ulysses S. Grant became president. Republicans passed a new law. The number of justices was nine once more. Future laws changed the circuit courts. By 1911, the number of circuit courts was not related to the number of justices.

• 
  

Multiple Choice

TRUE OR FALSE: By 1911, all circuit courts matched the number of justices.

• True

• False

9 Justices

• Since then, the Supreme Court has had nine justices. Some politicians have tried to change that number. In the 1930s, Franklin D. Roosevelt grew frustrated. The Supreme Court struck down Roosevelt's New Deal laws. He proposed adding six justices.

• The idea was wildly unpopular even among Roosevelt's supporters. Some described Roosevelt's plan as "court packing." The Senate voted against it.

  
  

Multiple Choice

Why did Franklin Roosevelt not like the Supreme Court?

• They struck down his New Deal laws.

• They said that he was not fit to be President.

• They wanted to run the country themselves with a 5/4 majority.

• They supported Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal laws.

Multiple Choice

What was "court packing"?

• Roosevelt wanted to add people to the Supreme Court to get a majority vote.

• Roosevelt wanted to take away people from the Supreme Court for disagreeing with him.

• Roosevelt wanted to claim land in Africa but the Court did not support.

• Roosevelt wanted to declare himself the king of the United States.

SUPREME COURT

• Politicians are still trying to change the court. Recently, the court has become more conservative. Some liberals want to add more justices.

• This shift started in 2016. Conservative Justice Antonin Scalia died. At the time, the court was split between liberal and conservative justices. President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the court. Republicans refused to vote on the nomination. Republicans argued that they should not confirm a justice in an election year. Scalia's seat remained open for nearly a year. Trump won the election. Trump's nominee Neil Gorsuch was seated in 2017. In 2018 Anthony Kennedy retired. Justice Kennedy was a moderate. He had a large influence on the court. Trump replaced Kennedy with Brett Kavanagh. The court became more conservative.

Multiple Choice

What happened when Barack Obama wanted to add Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court?

• The Republican Senate wanted to vote to remove Obama from the presidency.

• The Democratic Senate wanted to vote to remove Obama from the presidency.

• The Republican Senate refused to vote on it before the end of Obama's Presidency.

• The Democratic Senate refused to vote on it before the end of the Obama presidency.

Multiple Choice

Who recently wants to add more judges to the Supreme Court?

• Conservatives

• Liberals

Liberals

• Liberals worry about these changes. It is possible that the court will change its past decisions. Liberals point to issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. Some Democratic candidates for president suggested changing the court. They want the court to be more politically balanced.

• 
  

Multiple Choice

What issues do liberals want to address?

• Abortion and Same-sex marriage.

• Abortion and Freedom of Speech

• Freedom of Religion and Same-sex marriage

• Right to own guns and right to defend yourself in court.

Today

• Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in September. Ginsburg was beloved by liberals. Her death added to Democrats' fears. Some Democrats want to add new justices to the court. Democrats have offered several proposals for change.

• Democrats may not be able to add justices. Roosevelt found it difficult to add justices. People may not support major changes today.

Open Ended

SHARE 2 THINGS THAT YOU LEARNED ABOUT THE NEW DEAL AND SUPREME COURT