Government Response to the Great Depression: Learn About FDR's New Deal

Question 1

What were the primary objectives of the New Deal, and how did they address the challenges posed by the Great Depression?

Accepted Answer

Stimulate economic recovery and alleviate the suffering of the unemployed.

Answer

Reduce government spending and balance the budget.

Answer

Promote free trade and lower tariffs.

Answer

Increase taxes on the wealthy and corporations.

Question 2

What primary objective did President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs aim to achieve?

Accepted Answer

Alleviate widespread unemployment

Answer

Accelerate economic growth

Answer

Balance the federal budget

Answer

Reduce the size and scope of government

Question 3

Which program was not introduced as part of Roosevelt's First New Deal?

Accepted Answer

Social Security Act

Answer

Civilian Conservation Corps

Answer

Tennessee Valley Authority

Answer

National Recovery Administration

Question 4

What was the main function of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)?

Accepted Answer

To regulate the stock market and protect investors

Answer

To provide unemployment benefits

Answer

To subsidize agricultural production

Answer

To construct public infrastructure projects

Question 5

Which lasting impact did the Social Security Act have on American society?

Accepted Answer

Established a retirement pension system

Answer

Provided unemployment insurance

Answer

Created a national healthcare program

Answer

Eliminated child labor

Question 6

Which group was a primary target of support from New Deal programs?

Accepted Answer

Jobless workers

Answer

Farmers

Answer

Financial institutions

Answer

Wealthy individuals

Question 7

What was the impact of the Supreme Court case Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States?

Accepted Answer

It deemed the National Recovery Administration unconstitutional

Answer

It upheld the validity of the Social Security Act

Answer

It granted the federal government extensive economic powers

Answer

It restricted the application of the commerce clause

Question 8

How did the New Deal alter the role of government in the American economy?

Accepted Answer

Expanded government involvement and intervention

Answer

Contracted government spending

Answer

Shifted power from states to the federal government

Answer

Had no significant effect

Question 9

How did the New Deal affect the distribution of power among the federal government, state governments, and local governments?

Accepted Answer

It expanded federal authority considerably.

Answer

It reduced federal authority considerably.

Answer

It did not change the balance of power.

Question 10

In what way did the New Deal mark a departure from the 'laissez-faire' economic approach that had been prevalent in the United States before the Great Depression?

Accepted Answer

The New Deal significantly expanded the role of government in the economy.

Answer

The New Deal completely abandoned laissez-faire principles.

Answer

The New Deal continued previous government efforts to stabilize the economy.

Answer

The New Deal had no impact on the prevailing economic policies of the time.

Question 11

How did the severity of the Great Depression impact the government's response and the extent of the New Deal programs?

Accepted Answer

The severity of the crisis led to more comprehensive and ambitious New Deal programs.

Answer

The government's response was restricted to short-term relief measures due to the severity of the depression.

Answer

The government cut funding for social programs because of the severity of the depression.

Question 12

What was a major obstacle faced by Roosevelt's New Deal?

Accepted Answer

Political resistance and opposition

Answer

Limited financial resources

Answer

Ineffective programs

Answer

Lack of public support

Question 13

Identify the primary objective of the New Deal that focused on controlling economic activities and preventing future crises?

Accepted Answer

Regulation of the economy

Answer

Economic stimulation

Answer

Job creation opportunities

Answer

Relief for the needy and unemployed

Question 14

Which program established by the Social Security Act of 1935 provided income for elderly Americans?

Accepted Answer

Old-age pensions

Answer

Unemployment insurance

Answer

Aid to Families with Dependent Children

Answer

Medicare

Question 15

Identify the industry that was most significantly affected by the regulatory measures introduced by the New Deal?

Accepted Answer

Banking and finance

Answer

Manufacturing

Answer

Agriculture

Answer

Transportation

Question 16

What was the primary function of the Works Progress Administration (WPA)?

Accepted Answer

Construction of public infrastructure

Answer

Direct assistance to those in need

Answer

Regulation of businesses and industries

Answer

Insurance for bank deposits

Question 17

Which criticism commonly raised against the New Deal highlighted concerns about the expansion of federal authority?

Accepted Answer

Increased government power

Answer

Excessive spending

Answer

Intervention in free market principles

Answer

Inadequate support for the poor

Question 18

Which event is widely regarded as the primary factor leading to the conclusion of the New Deal era?

Accepted Answer

Outbreak of World War II

Answer

Supreme Court challenges to New Deal legislation

Answer

Economic recovery from the Great Depression

Answer

Election of a Republican president

Question 19

Which impact of the New Deal is generally NOT considered positive by historians?

Accepted Answer

Increase in the size of the federal government

Answer

Stimulation of economic recovery

Answer

Reduction in unemployment rates

Answer

Establishment of social safety nets

Question 20

For a student researching the New Deal, which source would provide the most relevant and reliable information?

Accepted Answer

Scholarly journal article published recently

Answer

Textbook from the 1930s

Answer

Documentary film from the 1960s

Answer

Website created by a political advocacy group

Question 21

The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 primarily aimed to:

Accepted Answer

Separate investment banks from commercial banks

Answer

Establish a deposit insurance system

Answer

Regulate the stock market

Answer

Limit the power of the Federal Reserve

Question 22

The Social Security Act of 1935 established a system of:

Accepted Answer

Retirement benefits for the elderly

Answer

Unemployment compensation

Answer

Health insurance coverage

Answer

Disability payments

Question 23

Which Supreme Court case declared the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) unconstitutional?

Accepted Answer

Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States

Answer

United States v. Butler

Answer

E.C. Knight Co. v. United States

Answer

Gibbons v. Ogden

Question 24

How did the New Deal impact labor-management relations?

Accepted Answer

It strengthened unions and expanded collective bargaining rights

Answer

It weakened unions and favored management

Answer

It had minimal impact on labor-management dynamics

Answer

It resulted in a decline in union membership

Question 25

Identify the program that was NOT part of President Roosevelt's New Deal initiatives.

Accepted Answer

Federal Reserve Board

Answer

Social Security Act

Answer

National Recovery Administration

Answer

Public Works Administration

Question 26

Who was the US President responsible for enacting the New Deal programs?

Accepted Answer

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Answer

Herbert Hoover

Answer

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Answer

John F. Kennedy

Question 27

True or False: The New Deal programs successfully eradicated the Great Depression.

Accepted Answer

False

Answer

True

Question 28

What was the primary purpose of the Social Security Act?

Accepted Answer

Providing retirement and disability benefits

Answer

Creating jobs in the construction sector

Answer

Regulating the banking system

Answer

Providing healthcare for low-income individuals

Question 29

Which New Deal program provided direct financial assistance to the unemployed?

Accepted Answer

Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA)

Answer

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Answer

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

Answer

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Question 30

The primary goal of the National Recovery Administration (NRA) was to:

Accepted Answer

Stabilize prices and production

Answer

Provide employment for the unemployed

Answer

Reform the banking system

Answer

Provide social security benefits

Question 31

How did the New Deal shape the political landscape of the United States?

Accepted Answer

It increased the federal government's role in the economy and contributed to the Democratic Party's political dominance.

Answer

It weakened the federal government and strengthened state governments.

Answer

It led to the Republican Party becoming the dominant party.

Question 32

How did organized labor contribute to the creation and implementation of the New Deal?

Accepted Answer

Labor unions played a key role in supporting and shaping New Deal policies that protected and expanded workers' rights.

Answer

Labor unions had no impact on the New Deal.

Answer

Labor unions largely resisted the New Deal and its policies.

Answer

The New Deal had no effect on labor rights or the labor movement.

Question 33

How did public opinion and political pressure shape the development and implementation of the New Deal?

Accepted Answer

Political pressure led Roosevelt to adopt more radical policies than he initially planned.

Answer

Public opinion had no impact on the New Deal's development.

Answer

Public opinion and political pressure had no influence on the implementation of the New Deal.

Answer

The New Deal was solely Roosevelt's vision, unaffected by external factors.

Question 34

How did the New Deal alter the distribution of power among the federal government, state governments, and local governments?

Accepted Answer

Increased federal power at the expense of state and local governments

Answer

Decreased federal power in favor of state and local governments

Answer

Shifted power from state governments to local governments

Answer

Had no impact on the relationship between different levels of government

Question 35

How did the New Deal's decentralized structure, with power spread across agencies, affect the program's implementation and outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Allowed for flexibility and adaptation to local needs

Answer

Improved coordination and decision-making

Answer

Reduced bureaucracy and sped up implementation

Answer

Ensured fair distribution of resources

Question 36

Which New Deal program established a national system of old-age insurance and unemployment benefits?

Accepted Answer

Social Security Act

Answer

Wagner Act

Answer

Fair Labor Standards Act

Answer

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Question 37

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) primarily sought to:

Accepted Answer

Create jobs through public works projects

Answer

Provide direct financial aid to the unemployed

Answer

Regulate the financial industry

Answer

Provide loans to banks and businesses

Question 38

The National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) sought to:

Accepted Answer

Protect workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively

Answer

Establish minimum wage and maximum hours for workers

Answer

Create a system of unemployment insurance

Answer

Regulate the stock market

Question 39

Evaluate the effectiveness of the New Deal programs in reducing income inequality and promoting social justice.

Accepted Answer

The New Deal's impact on income inequality and social justice was mixed.

Answer

The New Deal significantly reduced income inequality and fostered social justice.

Answer

The New Deal had no impact on income inequality or social justice.

Answer

The New Deal worsened income inequality and hindered social justice efforts.

Question 40

Which of the following was a major goal of President Roosevelt's New Deal programs?

Accepted Answer

To provide relief, recovery, and reform

Answer

To increase tariffs on imported goods

Answer

To reduce government spending

Answer

To abolish the Federal Reserve System

Question 41

Which New Deal program established a system of social security?

Accepted Answer

Social Security Act

Answer

Works Progress Administration

Answer

National Recovery Administration

Answer

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Question 42

What was the main purpose of the National Labor Relations Act?

Accepted Answer

To protect the rights of organized labor

Answer

To establish a minimum wage

Answer

To provide unemployment benefits

Answer

To regulate the banking industry

Question 43

Which New Deal program aimed to reduce agricultural surpluses?

Accepted Answer

Agricultural Adjustment Act

Answer

Federal Housing Administration

Answer

Tennessee Valley Authority

Answer

Civilian Conservation Corps

Question 44

To what extent did the New Deal contribute to the economic recovery of the United States?

Accepted Answer

The extent to which the New Deal contributed to economic recovery is a matter of ongoing historical debate.

Answer

The New Deal had a significant positive impact on economic recovery

Answer

The New Deal had a significant negative impact on economic recovery

Question 45

How did the New Deal programs affect the relationship between business and government?

Accepted Answer

Increased government regulation and intervention in the economy

Answer

No significant change in the relationship

Answer

Decreased government regulation and intervention

Answer

Reversed the roles of business and government

Question 46

Which groups primarily benefited from the New Deal programs?

Accepted Answer

The unemployed, the elderly, and the poor

Answer

Big business owners

Answer

Farmers

Question 47

What was the overall impact of the New Deal on the American economy?

Accepted Answer

Mixed, with both positive and negative effects

Answer

Overwhelmingly negative

Answer

Overwhelmingly positive

Question 48

Which of the following was a key goal of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs?

Accepted Answer

Provide relief to the unemployed and needy

Answer

Reduce the size of government

Answer

Eliminate all government regulations

Answer

Balance the federal budget

Question 49

Which of the following was a major component of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)?

Accepted Answer

Providing jobs and job training for young men in conservation projects

Answer

Expanding social security benefits

Answer

Creating a national unemployment insurance system

Question 50

What was the primary purpose of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)?

Accepted Answer

To provide flood control, generate electricity, and improve economic conditions in the Tennessee Valley region

Answer

To create new jobs in the manufacturing sector

Answer

To regulate banking and finance

Question 51

Which Supreme Court case challenged the constitutionality of New Deal programs?

Accepted Answer

Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States

Answer

United States v. Nixon

Answer

Brown v. Board of Education

Answer

Roe v. Wade

Question 52

How did the New Deal programs contribute to America's preparedness for World War II?

Accepted Answer

By stimulating economic growth, increasing industrial capacity, and reducing unemployment

Answer

By forming alliances with foreign powers

Answer

By creating a large standing army

Question 53

Which of the following is considered a legacy of the New Deal?

Accepted Answer

An expanded role for government in the economy and social welfare

Answer

A return to isolationist foreign policy

Answer

A decrease in the national debt

Question 54

What is the main idea of the provided text?

Accepted Answer

The New Deal programs had a significant impact on the American economy and society during the Great Depression.

Answer

The New Deal programs were universally successful in ending the Great Depression.