The Great Depression and the New Deal
Edward O’Donnell is a professor of history at College of the Holy Cross. He is the author of several books, including Henry George and the Crisis of Inequality: Progress and Poverty in the Gilded Age. He frequently contributes op-eds to publications like Newsweek and The Huffington Post, and has been featured on PBS, the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, and C-SPAN. O’Donnell also has curated several major museum exhibits on American history and appeared in several historical documentaries. He currently hosts a history podcast, “In the Past Lane.”
Overview
During the early years of the Great Depression, Americans experienced economic hardship (25% unemployment) on a scale that was without precedent in U. S. history. This multimedia presentation explores the causes and impact of the Great Depression. It also will examine the key aspects of President Roosevelt’s New Deal, including: the central philosophical and political ideas behind it, the goals and outcomes of the short-term programs like the WPA and permanent reforms such as Social Security, the conservative challenge to the New Deal (i.e., Liberty League), and the formation of the New Deal coalition. Finally, Professor O’Donnell will offer an assessment of the successes and failures of the New Deal.