Interactive Timeline – 1932-1939

correct incorrect Jan–Jul The Great Depression becomes more severe as businesses and banks fail and millions of workers lose jobs and savings

correct incorrect Jul President Hoover is discredited after he orders Bonus Army dispersed in Washington by police and troops; Democratic Party nominates Franklin D. Roosevelt as its candidate for president with promise of a "new deal" for the American people and concern for the "forgotten man."

correct incorrect Nov Roosevelt elected president by a wide margin and Democrats dominate new Congress

correct incorrect Nov 1932–Mar 1933 Depression worsens in five months between Roosevelt's election and inauguration; thousands more banks fail, and unemployment rate rises to 25%, with another 25% working part-time for reduced wages

correct incorrect THE WORLD: Jan–Dec Most of Europe, Asia, and Latin America succumb to the Depression

correct incorrect Feb–Mar Banking system virtually closes down throughout United States; many politicians urge Roosevelt to assume dictatorial powers

correct incorrect Mar Roosevelt inaugurated; proposes series of government initiatives to deal with economic crisis; begins speaking directly to public through "fireside chats" broadcasts over the radio

correct incorrect Mar United States abandons the gold standard

correct incorrect Mar–Jun "First Hundred Days" of legislative reform enacted by Congress, includes bank regulation, farm aid, and emergency relief appropriations for the unemployed; prohibition repealed by constitutional amendment

correct incorrect THE WORLD: Jan Adolf Hitler becomes German chancellor and soon assumes dictatorial power

correct incorrect Apr Indian Reorganization Act passed by Congress

correct incorrect Jun Securities and Exchange Commission created, regulating stock market

correct incorrect Spring–summer The Second Hundred Days of reform legislation begins

correct incorrect Apr WPA created to employ millions of jobless laborers and to work on federal projects

correct incorrect Aug Social Security Act passed, creating old age pension system and programs to assist injured workers

correct incorrect Nov Roosevelt reelected in a landslide, and large Democratic majorities elected to Congress

correct incorrect Dec Automobile workers' sit-down strikes begin in Michigan, demanding union recognition

correct incorrect THE WORLD: Feb Keynes publishes The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, describing how government spending could stimulate economic growth

correct incorrect Feb Roosevelt proposes Judicial Reorganization Act to enlarge Supreme Court by adding liberal judges, but Congress rejects his plan

correct incorrect Jul Roosevelt agrees to reduce federal deficit spending to balance the budget, triggering a steep recession and a surge in unemployment

correct incorrect May Congress creates House Committee on Un-American Activities to investigate left-wing influence in New Deal agencies

correct incorrect Spring–summer Roosevelt resumes deficit spending on federal projects, restores economic growth

correct incorrect Jun Congress enacts Fair Labor Standards Act, last major New Deal reform before World War II

correct incorrect Jun–Nov Roosevelt fails in effort to "purge" mostly southern conservative Democrats out of Congress by endorsing liberal opponents in party primaries

correct incorrect Nov Following midterm elections, conservative southern Democrats and an increased number of northern Republicans in Congress join forces to block further New Deal reforms

correct incorrect THE WORLD: Sep Munich conference sacrifices Czechoslovakia

correct incorrect THE WORLD: Nov Nazis step up attacks on German Jews

correct incorrect THE WORLD: Sep War begins in Europe after Hitler's armies invade Poland