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Fdr's Response To The Great Depression

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During World War I there was an increase in strikes that allowed employees to get higher wages and better conditions. However, after the war unions started to weaken due to the unexpectedly high wages. The workers were expecting the wages they had before the war began. After the war, many soldiers came back wanting their old jobs back. This caused various employees to keep quiet about asking for better wages because there was always the possibility that the soldiers who came home can take their jobs. Another factor that caused workers to keep quiet was the cost of living, people were living a wealthy lifestyle in the 20s where individuals were being paid in credit instead of cash. The amount of debt that people had was huge and caused the 1929 …show more content…

To let the economy start flowing again FDR came up with the New Deal. The New Deal included the Wagner Act which was that “employees shall have the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and shall be free from the interference restraint, or coercion of employers of labor” (Wagner Act). The support from President Roosevelt got an abundant amount of recognition because the President was giving them the respect they deserve but employers were not. Many asked the question on why employers did not have the same respect that a man who is President has. The support from Roosevelt was a factor in the increase in unions but the Wagner Act gave the workers the idea to start uniting and fighting their employers for better wages. This was proven after Roosevelt’s big win in the election, “strikes began to multiply throughout the Industrial Midwest” because of the support he gave the workers of the United States (Who Built America 461). In addition, the Wagner Act allowed workers who were demanding labor to enhance their bargaining power (Lichtenstein 110). The National Industrial Relations Act impacted the workers of the United States to collectively join and win strikes. When workers have the freedom to bargain for their jobs especially during the Great Depression where workers were getting paid close to nothing they take that opportunity to challenge against the “few forms of oppression” (Gompers 130). The government was telling workers that the only possible way for employers to negotiate was if workers became a union. With unions workers “have far greater power together than they have alone” and the Wagner Act motivated them to grow in power instead of letting the dark times take over (Brecher 2). Section 7a provided protection for workers who were threatened with losing their jobs in an era where jobs were rare to find. Citizens who were employed and

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