Mrs. Ruland's U.S. History Class Project
New Deal's Effects on Minority Groups
The New Deal had a minimal effect on the minority groups in the United States in the 1930s. For the African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, and women the New Deal was not a beacon of change. For these minorities, the New Deal did not provide them with relief or jobs, but it did reinforce the discrimination towards them. The women were not given an equal chances in the work world as the men. The NRA codes allowed companies to give women lower wages than the men who were employed. Men were given priority over the women in the relief programs. The women during the 1930s were mainly employed in the domestic service industries. There was nothing included in the New Deal that protected their occupations in the domestic services. Since domestic service was not included in the Social Security Act, women were also excluded from protection under the act. African Americans were also discriminated against in the New Deal. They were subjected to racial segregation and were not offered any jobs. They were also kept out of the skilled jobs and the discriminatory practices in the North did not end. African American lynching also increased. Mexican Americans were also discriminated against and were not given substantial help under the New Deal. The only minority group who gained anything under the New Deal was the Native Americans. The Indian Reorganization Act ended the sale of their tribal lands. They also gained control of the reservations and gained more privileges on their reservations. Under the New Deal minority groups were not recognized and were discriminated against. The New Deal focused on the average white American man and the minority groups gained little to nothing.
Dr. Yantek teaches in the field of government history and wrote this site based on his research of other historical documents.This website addresses the overall impact and idea of the New Deal. The site describes how the New Deal was based on some of the movements in the Progressive Era yet, the site also states how certain plans that were in the Progressive Era but were not included in the New Deal. This website gives a very descriptive overview of the impact of the New Deal.
This article comes from the National Women's History Museum. The Museum accurately describes the history of women with the hard facts. This site gives an accurate depiction of the hardships the women faced during the New Deal. The site gives you a detailed description of how the women dealt with the situation and the discrimination they faced during the Depression and the New Deal. (The information continues for 4 and ½ pages)
Michael Hoak, a doctoral candidate in American History at William and Mary College, composed this site. The site gives an overall view on the African American situation in the Civilian Conservation Core and then gives links to historical items such as newspaper articles and photos to give a better look at the issue. This is a factual based site that accurately describes the conditions of the African Americans in the CCC.
This site outlines the effect the New Deal had on African Americans, Mexican Americans, and women. This site is composed by an online resource and accurately describes the conditions of the minorities during the New Deal era.
The Real Effect on African Americans
Damon W. Root is a New York City writer who often critiques the decisions and outcome of major movements of many presidential terms from the Progressive Era until current presidents. This site gives factual information about the actual amount of help that African Americans received after the New Deal, while also providing a number of opinions. The site offers accurate details from previous documents.
Mexican American Struggles
Susan L. Palmer writes for the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. This journal is an educational periodical that gives an accurate analysis of many historical times. This site offers important information that relates to the struggle of Mexican Americans during the New Deal. It accurately explains how many Mexican American workers found little relief after the Depression.
New Deal: Reform or Revolution
Thomas Carson and Mary Bonk were writers for the Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. This site explains the effect of the New Deal on the United States economy and society. The Social Security is analyzed to see if it truly aided everyone in the society. A brief overview of the New Deal is given, along with contrasting viewpoints about the effect of the New Deal. (This is a Gale website; make sure you have logged into your school account before you try to access. See your Media Specialist if you need assistance.)
This site comes from an online edition of Discovering U.S. History published by Gale. Along with providing an overview of the events leading up to the New Deal, this website gives information on the effect of the New Deal on three of the four main minority groups, African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Women. The site analyzes the treatment and the effect it had on them and the rest of society. (This is a Gale website; make sure you have logged into your school account before you try to access. See your Media Specialist if you need assistance.)
New Deal Effect on Native Americans
This site was published in an online edition of Discovering U.S. History by Gale.The website provides how New Deal legislation impacted the Native Americans. It includes specific acts that affected the Native Americans, and it analyzes how politicians reacted to them. (This is a Gale website; make sure you have logged into your school account before you try to access. See your Media Specialist if you need assistance.)
Indian Reorganization Act of 1934
This site comes from an online edition of Discovering Multicultural America published by Gale.This site provides an in-depth analysis of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and its effect on the Native American living in the United States during the New Deal era. It explains the legislation itself, as well as how it was enacted. It includes the impact on the Native American society. (This is a Gale website; make sure you have logged into your school account before you try to access. See your Media Specialist if you need assistance.)
Katrina H., Rachel H., Kaitlyn I.
Last updated March 28, 2007
© Marcella Ruland 1998-2008, All rights reserved
