Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Roosevelt and the First New Deal, 1933–35: emergency relief; public works;…
Full specification wording
Depression and New Deal, 1929–38: Roosevelt and the First New Deal, 1933–35: emergency relief; public works; the alphabet agencies; help for farmers; reforming the financial system; opposition to Roosevelt’s policies, including Huey Long and the Supreme Court.
Roosevelt's First New Deal tackled the Depression through emergency relief, public works and the alphabet agencies.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 4
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Roosevelt's First New Deal tackled the Depression through emergency relief, public works and the alphabet agencies. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration gave grants to states for direct relief, while the Civilian Conservation Corps and Public Works Administration provided work. The Agricultural Adjustment Act helped farmers by paying them to cut output, raising prices. Financial reform included the Emergency Banking Act, the Glass–Steagall Act separating commercial and investment banking, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Opposition came from Huey Long's Share Our Wealth movement and a conservative Supreme Court, which struck down the NRA in 1935 and the AAA in 1936.
What earns the marks
- Explains emergency relief: the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (1933) channelled federal grants to states for direct payments and work relief.
- Explains public works: the Civilian Conservation Corps (1933) employed young men, and the Public Works Administration (1933) funded large-scale construction.
- Explains the alphabet agencies: bodies such as the NRA, AAA, TVA and CCC addressed banking, industry, agriculture and regional poverty.
- Explains help for farmers: the Agricultural Adjustment Act (1933) paid farmers to reduce acreage and livestock, aiming to raise prices.
- Explains financial reform: the Emergency Banking Act (1933) reopened sound banks, Glass–Steagall (1933) separated commercial and investment banking, and the SEC (1934) regulated markets.
- Explains opposition: Huey Long demanded wealth redistribution; the Supreme Court ruled the NRA unconstitutional in 1935 and the AAA in 1936, prompting Roosevelt's court-packing plan.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating the New Deal as a single programme.
Put it right by distinguishing first-term measures of 1933–35 from the later Second New Deal.
Dating the Supreme Court's AAA ruling to 1935.
Put it right by noting the NRA was struck down in 1935 (Schechter) and the AAA in 1936 (Butler).
Confusing relief with recovery.
Put it right by separating immediate aid to the unemployed from longer-term economic rebuilding.
Exam tips
- Link each agency to its purpose and to a specific group affected, rather than listing initials.
- Use the opposition clause to build analysis of why the First New Deal was contested.
- Support claims with named legislation and accurate dates within 1933–36.
Try the lesson
The start of the Depression and New Deal, 1929–38: Roosevelt and the First New Deal, 1933–35: emergency relief; public works; the alphabet agencies; help for farmers; reforming the financial system; opposition to Roosevelt’s policies, including Huey Long and the Supreme Court. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which First New Deal agency was created in 1933 to provide emergency relief by giving direct federal grants to the states for the unemployed?
Listen
Roosevelt's First New Deal tackled the Depression through emergency relief, public works and the alphabet agencies. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration gave grants to states for direct relief, while the Civilian Conservation Corps and Public Works Administration provided work. The Agricultural Adjustment Act helped farmers by paying them to cut output, raising prices. Financial reform included the Emergency Banking Act, the Glass–Steagall Act separating commercial and investment banking, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Opposition came from Huey Long's Share Our Wealth movement and a conservative Supreme Court, which struck down the NRA in 1935 and the AAA in 1936. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains emergency relief: the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (1933) channelled federal grants to states for direct payments and work relief. Explains public works: the Civilian Conservation Corps (1933) employed young men, and the Public Works Administration (1933) funded large-scale construction. Explains the alphabet agencies: bodies such as the NRA, AAA, TVA and CCC addressed banking, industry, agriculture and regional poverty. Explains help for farmers: the Agricultural Adjustment Act (1933) paid farmers to reduce acreage and livestock, aiming to raise prices. A common slip: Treating the New Deal as a single programme. Instead, distinguishing first-term measures of 1933–35 from the later Second New Deal. Exam tip: Link each agency to its purpose and to a specific group affected, rather than listing initials.
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