The New Deal Featuring Blues, Country, and Folk Songs

What impact did the New Deal have on the United States during the Great Depression, what is the legacy of the New Deal, and how did songs reflect different feelings Americans had about the New Deal?

Know (knowledge)

• New Deal programs and their impact on American society
• The effectiveness of New Deal programs and the societal response to those programs
• Resistance and controversies that arose from New Deal policies
• How the New Deal changed the role of the federal government

Mastery Objective

• Students will be able to assess the impact of the New Deal on the United States during the Great Depression and beyond through the examination of song lyrics and primary sources.

In this lesson, students will examine songs lyrics and primary sources to evaluate the impact of New Deal programs on U.S. society. They will analyze Supreme Court cases to examine critiques and arguments against the New Deal programs. Students will finish the lesson by creating a 1930s radio broadcast that will reflect the materials covered in the lesson.

“On the farms, in the large metropolitan areas, in the smaller cities and in our villages, millions of our citizens cherish the hope that their standard of living and of thought have not gone forever.  Those millions cannot hope in vain.  I pledge you, I pledge myself to a new deal for the American people.” -Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1932

After winning the U.S. presidential election of 1932, newly-inaugurated President Franklin D. Roosevelt spent his first 100 days in office trying to fulfill the pledge he had made to Americans during the campaign. He proposed legislation with the intent that it would bring back hope to Americans in the grip of the Great Depression. The nickname of “Alphabet Soup Agencies” for his legislation was coined for proposed programs like the CCC, TVA, AAA and others.

President Roosevelt’s goal with the programs was to put Americans back to work to combat the almost 25% unemployment rate. He also wanted to bring back confidence in the economic institutions of the United States. For example, the FDIC was created to stabilize the banking industry and the SEC was established to address public mistrust for the stock market. The National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933 was also a legislative priority to bring about business and labor reform.

Folk and Blues songs from this era convey the hope that these programs provided to people and families living through the Great Depression. “The TVA Song” by Folk musician Pete Seeger describes TVA projects that brought electricity to rural areas. “Old Age Pension Check” by Country Music Singer Roy Acuff expresses the financial relief provided from new Social Security benefits. “Government Money” by Blues performer Sleepy John Estes provides context to the government assistance that was provided to farmers through New Deal programs.

However, not all songs share a positive view of New Deal programs. “The Valley (TVA Song)” by singer Tessa Oglesby and “WPA Blues” by Country Blues singer Casey Bill Weldon describe instances where families lost their homes due to TVA and WPA projects. “New Working On The Project” by Bluesman Peetie Wheatstraw shares the precarious nature of holding onto project jobs especially near the end of the 1930s when President Roosevelt attempted to “balance the budget” in his second term. 

Discontentment with the New Deal programs also played out at the national level when critics argued the constitutionality of the programs. These arguments were taken to the Supreme Court, where several programs were charged with violating American ideals like federalism and the separation of powers. Some programs were declared unconstitutional, like the National Industrial Recovery Act, while others survived, including Federal Old-Age benefits under the Social Security Act.

Historians and economists have long debated the successes and failures of the New Deal. There were varying degrees of success during the 1930s and beyond for each program. The U.S. economy did not fully recover until the United States entered World War II in 1941, which created millions of jobs in the defense and war industries.  However, some New Deal programs are still present today and its legacy is felt throughout the U.S. Government and American society.

Students need a device with access to the internet.

1. Display each page of Gallery Walk – Part 2 New Deal Songs throughout the classroom.
2. Distribute electronically Handout – New Deal Primary Sources to each student.