Westbrook's Tragic Deal

In Tragic Deal by Robert Westbrook, Westbrook examines how the Southern Democrats not only influenced the unemployment concerns and the continued racial divide among Americans, but also the economic concerns as well. He states that “in 1933, they (the Southern Democrats) chaired many Congressional committees and most of the key ones: Appropriations, Banking and Currency,…,Ways and Means in the House; and….Banking and Currency, Commerce, Finance, and Military Affairs in the Senate. New Deal legislation was in large measure in their hands.” Westbrook contends that “an alliance with Southern racists was essential to New Deal success.” David Kennedy takes a softer stand on this issue. Kennedy contends that though the majority of political power

Many Americans blamed Capitalism for the loss of their jobs, money, homes and security. In his book, Dust Bowl, The Southern Plains of the 1930’s, Donald Worster contends just that, however, he takes it a step further as well. Worster expresses his belief that not only was Capitalism the cause of the Great Depression but it was the cause of the Dust Bowl that occurred in the states of Kansas and Oklahoma. When writing about the use of the land, Worster contends that “Capitalism was the major defining influence. From the beginning of settlement, the plainsman was intent on turning the land to more and more gainful use…..the objects of which were not simply to make a living, but to make money.” Worster expressed the belief that, in the quest for money, the farmers ignored the damage they were doing to the land, thus creating a loss of vegetation and subsequent dust bowl when faced with a long period of drought. Worster also contends that Roosevelt’s New Deal did little to help the plight of the farmers in these regions and that “the federal land planners nor the ecologists made a lasting impact on the region. While it may be obvious to anyone who has ever visited this area of the country that indeed great damage was done to the land, it is unfair to conclude that little has been learned from this

The New Deal provided for many what they were desperately seeking, relief from unemployment and financial crisis and a lasting assurance that the government of the United States would provide for its’ people in their hour of need. With any crisis as large and devastating as the Great Depression, the steering of a nation into a time of prosperity is measured by both it’s successes and it’s failures. In the end, many prospered once again from the commitment Roosevelt made to the American people on the day of his inauguration. Jobs, though not brought to all, were brought to many. In the end, the economy of the United States was stabilized, though not as quickly as many had hoped for. The programs that the New Deal brought to the citizens of the United States are still working, for the most part, in the twenty first century. The forestry, flood control, and beautification projects that the New Deal created are lasting reminders that when given the means, Americans can achieve great things. On a personal note, this writer can attest to the accomplishments of the New Deal. This writer has cast a fishing line and observed first hand the beauty of Norris Lake, and learned of the power of the Norris Dam in Norris, Tennessee. This writer has traveled on horseback through Custer State Park and observed the beauty and grandeur of the Black Hills of South Dakota.