The New Deal: Government Support for Labor

• FDR generally supported the labor movement and worked to change working conditions– The Wagner Act

• Protected the rights of workers to join unions• Prohibited businesses from threatening workers, firing union

members, and interfering with union organizing

– The Fair Labor Standards Act• Set maximum work hours to 44 per week (later decreased to 40• Set a minimum wage of 25 cents per hour• Set rules for the employment of workers under 16 and banned

hazardous work for those under 18

• The thirties was still a tough time for labor– Many states did not support labor unions– The Great Depression made pressuring companies difficult

• High unemployment meant that it was easy for companies to fire striking workers and hire new ones

Guiding Question: Should the government have backed business or labor during the Great Depression?

• Highlight or underline anything in Primary Source A that can help you answer the guiding question

Guiding Question: Should the government have backed business or labor during the Great Depression?

• Highlight or underline anything in Primary Source A that can help you answer the guiding question

• Summarize what Primary Source A has to say about the guiding question.

Guiding Question: Should the government have backed business or labor during the Great Depression?

• Highlight or underline anything in Primary Source B that can help you answer the guiding question

Guiding Question: Should the government have backed business or labor during the Great Depression?

• Highlight or underline anything in Primary Source B that can help you answer the guiding question

• Summarize what Primary Source B has to say about the guiding question