was the new deal a good deal essay

The New Deal — A Guide to FDR’s Plan for Relief, Recovery, and Reform

The New Deal was a series of programs and policies implemented in the 1930s by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in response to severe economic and social issues in the United States.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944. Image Source: FDR Presidential Library & Museum on Flickr .

New Deal Summary

The New Deal was a series of programs and policies implemented in the 1930s by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt — commonly referred to as FDR — in response to severe economic and social issues in the United States. Each New Deal program and policy fell into one or more of three areas, known as the “Three Rs” — Relief, Recovery, and Reform.

At the end of the Roaring Twenties, the 1929 Stock Market Crash triggered the Great Depression started when the stock market crashed in 1929. Starting in 1931, the southwestern Great Plains suffered from a severe drought, which led to massive dust storms. The area was called “The Dust Bowl” and thousands of people were forced to abandon their homes and move west. In the wake of these events, Roosevelt ran for President in 1932, promising a “New Deal” for Americans, and defeated incumbent Herbert Hoover.

Roosevelt was inaugurated on March 4, 1933. In his First Inaugural Address, he delivered the famous line, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” FDR moved quickly to ease the effects of the Depression on Americans by passing New Deal legislation during “The First Hundred Days” of his Presidency.

FDR started by restoring faith in banks, which had suffered due to the stock market crash of 1929. A Bank Holiday was declared and Congress followed by passing the Emergency Banking Relief Act, which allowed the government to inspect the financial health of banks before allowing them to reopen.

The New Deal aimed to tackle unemployment by creating programs that provided job opportunities. The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) employed millions of Americans to work on infrastructure projects, such as building roads, bridges, and schools. Other programs, like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), developed hydroelectric power plants to bring electricity to communities where none existed.

The New Deal also addressed labor relations by passing the National Labor Relations Act — also known as the (Wagner Act). It protected the rights of workers, allowing them to join unions and engage in collective bargaining. The act also established the Fair Labor Standards Act, which set a minimum wage for workers.

The New Deal programs and policies created a significant expansion of the Federal government. They also redefined the government’s role in dealing with economic and social issues. The New Deal was controversial when it was implemented, and its legacy continues to be debated by historians, economists, and others. However, the significance of the New Deal and its impact on the United States during the era leading up to World War II cannot be denied.

What did the New Deal do?

This video from the Daily Bellringer provides an overview of the New Deal and its programs. It also touches on the controversy caused by the New Deal which was caused by the expansion of the Federal Government.

New Deal Facts

• The name “New Deal” came from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1932 acceptance speech for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. In the speech, he said, “I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.”
• The New Deal was designed to deal with the economic and social issues created by the 1929 Stock Market Crash, the Great Depression, and the Dust Bow.
• On March 4, 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President. He gave a speech on Capitol Plaza in Washington DC to 100,000 people. He said the “only thing we should be afraid of is fear itself.”
• He took action right away by calling Congress into a special session known as “The Hundred Days,” during which legislation was passed to deal with the Depression and provide economic aid to struggling Americans.
• In an effort to restore the public’s confidence in banks, FDR declared a Bank Holiday and Congress passed the Emergency Banking Relief Act.
• The New Deal dealt with unemployment by creating programs like the Civil Works Administration (CWA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), providing jobs for millions of Americans and improving the nation’s infrastructure.
• The New Deal was followed by the Second New Deal, which included the National Labor Relations Act, the  Works Progress Administration, and the Social Security Act.
• The New Deal also included labor-related legislation, such as the National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) and the Fair Labor Standards Act, which gave workers the right to join unions, negotiate collectively, and established a minimum wage.
• The New Deal paved the way for the repeal of the 18th Amendment, which established Prohibition. The Beer-Wine Revenue Act of 1933 amended the Volstead Act by raising the amount of alcohol allowed to 3.2 percent and also levied a tax.
• Social programs established by the New Deal are still in effect today, including Social Security and the “Food Stamp Plan.”

New Deal AP US History (APUSH) Terms, Definitions, and FAQs

This section provides terms, definitions, and Frequently Asked Questions about the New Deal and the Second New Deal, including people, events, and programs. Also, be sure to look at our Guide to the AP US History Exam .

The New Deal was a series of policies and programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the 1930s in response to the Great Depression. The New Deal aimed to provide relief to the unemployed and poor, promote economic recovery, and reform the financial system. The New Deal included programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), and the National Recovery Administration (NRA). It also created numerous agencies and programs such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Social Security Administration.

The second phase of the New Deal, which was enacted in 1935. The Second New Deal focused on providing economic security to Americans through the creation of Social Security and other welfare programs. It also included measures to stimulate the economy, such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The Second New Deal was instrumental in helping to alleviate poverty and providing employment opportunities during the Great Depression.

FDR’s Alphabet Soup refers to the numerous programs and agencies created during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency as part of the New Deal. These initiatives, often known by their acronyms, aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression. Examples include the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority), and the WPA (Works Progress Administration).

The New Deal was a series of economic programs and reforms enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression. The New Deal sought to provide relief, recovery, and reform to the American economy. It included programs such as Social Security, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These programs were instrumental in helping to protect workers’ rights and providing employment opportunities during the Great Depression. However, the New Deal was controversial, with some arguing it was a “raw deal” for workers and others arguing that it helped to alleviate the suffering of millions of Americans.

The three Rs of the New Deal were 1) Relief for the needy, 2) Recovery of the economy, and 3) Reform of the financial system. Each of the New Deal Programs generally fell into one of these areas. The goal of the three Rs was to keep the United States from falling into another Economic Depression.

New Deal People and Groups

Herbert Hoover — Herbert Hoover served as the 31st President of the United States from 1929 to 1933. He faced the immense challenges of the Great Depression and was criticized for his belief in limited government intervention. Despite his efforts to address the crisis, Hoover’s presidency is often associated with economic hardships and the initial response to the Depression.

John L. Lewis — An American labor leader who was instrumental in the formation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1935. He was a key figure in the Second New Deal and helped to pass the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). He was also responsible for leading several major strikes during the Great Depression, including the United Mine Workers strike of 1934. Lewis worked to protect workers’ rights and provide employment opportunities during the Great Depression.

Franklin D. Roosevelt — Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States, serving from 1933 to 1945. He was elected to the presidency during the Great Depression, and his presidency is closely associated with the New Deal, a series of policies and programs aimed at addressing the economic crisis and promoting economic recovery. He was re-elected for an unprecedented four terms and his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II solidified the role of the Federal government in the American economy and society.

Eleanor Roosevelt — The wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt and one of the most influential First Ladies in American history. She was an advocate for civil rights and women’s rights, and she used her position to promote social reform.

FDR’s Brain Trust — A group of advisors to President Franklin D. Roosevelt who helped him develop the New Deal. They included prominent academics and intellectuals such as Raymond Moley, Rexford Tugwell, and Adolf Berle.

New Deal Democrats —  New Deal Democrats were a faction within the Democratic Party during the 1930s and 1940s that supported Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies. These Democrats supported increasing government intervention in the economy and expanding social welfare programs.

United Mine Workers — A labor union that was formed in 1890. The union was instrumental in the formation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1935 and led several major strikes during the Great Depression, including the United Mine Workers strike of 1934.

Hundred Days Congress — The Hundred Days Congress was a special session of the United States Congress that ran from March 9 to June 16, 1933. It was called in response to the economic crisis of the Great Depression and was used to pass a number of laws known as the New Deal. During this period, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a series of sweeping reforms designed to provide relief for those affected by the depression, as well as to stimulate the economy. The Hundred Days Congress passed a number of laws, including the Emergency Banking Relief Act, the Glass-Steagall Act, and the National Industrial Recovery Act.

New Deal Events

1932 Presidential Election — The 1932 Presidential Election marked a pivotal moment in American history as the nation grappled with the Great Depression. It was primarily a contest between Republican incumbent Herbert Hoover and Democratic candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). FDR emerged victorious, promising a “New Deal” to combat the Depression and implementing a series of reforms that fundamentally reshaped the role of the federal government.

Bank Holiday — A bank holiday is a period of time during which banks are closed, usually by government order. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared a national bank holiday in order to address the banking crisis caused by the Great Depression. During the holiday, which lasted four days, the government examined the books of all banks and only those that were found to be sound were allowed to reopen. This action helped stabilize the banking system and restore public confidence in banks.

Fireside Chats — The Fireside Chats were a series of radio addresses given by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during his presidency. The chats were designed to provide the American people with information about the government’s policies and actions and to explain the reasoning behind them in plain language. The chats were informal and conversational in tone, and they were delivered from the White House, often in the evening, giving the impression that Roosevelt was speaking directly to the American people from the warmth and comfort of their own homes. The Fireside Chats were a powerful tool for Roosevelt to communicate with the American people, build public support for his policies and maintain public confidence during a time of economic crisis.

Great Depression — The Great Depression refers to the severe economic downturn that occurred in the United States and other countries during the 1930s. It was characterized by widespread unemployment, poverty, and a sharp decline in industrial production and trade—ultimately leading to a fundamental restructuring of the American economy and significant social and political changes.

Roosevelt Recession — A period of economic contraction that occurred during the Great Depression, starting in 1937 and lasting until 1938. It was caused by a combination of factors, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s decision to reduce government spending, an increase in taxes, and the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates. This resulted in a decrease in consumer spending and investment, leading to a decrease in economic activity. The Roosevelt Recession was a major setback for the New Deal and led to increased unemployment and poverty.

United Mine Workers Strike of 1934 — A major strike led by the United Mine Workers Union during the Great Depression. The strike was in response to wage cuts and other grievances. It lasted for several months and resulted in a victory for the miners, who were able to secure higher wages and better working conditions.

New Deal Programs

Agricultural Adjustment Act (1933) — A law passed by Congress in 1933 as part of the New Deal. The AAA was designed to help farmers by providing subsidies for reducing crop production and encouraging soil conservation. It also established the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), which was responsible for implementing the provisions of the act. The AAA was instrumental in helping to stabilize agricultural prices and providing economic relief to farmers during the Great Depression.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) — The CCC provided employment for young men between the ages of 18 and 25, who were paid to work on conservation projects such as planting trees, building roads, and constructing dams. The CCC also provided educational opportunities for its workers, including classes in literacy, math, and vocational skills. The CCC was instrumental in helping to restore the environment and providing employment opportunities during the Great Depression.

Civil Works Administration (CWA) — An agency created by the Federal Emergency Relief Act of 1933 as part of the New Deal. The CWA was responsible for providing jobs to millions of Americans during the Great Depression. It provided employment in construction, repair, and maintenance projects such as building roads, bridges, and public buildings. The CWA was instrumental in helping to alleviate poverty and providing employment opportunities during the Great Depression.

Emergency Banking Relief Act (1933) — A law passed by Congress in 1933 which allowed the federal government to provide emergency loans to banks in order to stabilize the banking system. The act was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal and was designed to restore public confidence in the banking system. It provided for the reopening of solvent banks, the reorganization of insolvent banks, and the establishment of a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to insure deposits up to $2,500. The act was instrumental in helping to stabilize the banking system during the Great Depression and restoring public confidence in banks.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) — An independent agency of the United States government created in 1933 as part of the New Deal. The FDIC provides insurance for deposits up to a certain amount in member banks, protecting depositors from losses due to bank failures. The FDIC also regulates and supervises financial institutions to ensure that they are operating safely and soundly. It is one of the most important financial regulatory agencies in the United States and has helped to restore public confidence in the banking system.

Federal Emergency Relief Act (1933) — A law passed by Congress in 1933 as part of the New Deal. The FERA provided federal funds to states and local governments to create relief programs for the unemployed. It also established the Civil Works Administration (CWA), which was responsible for providing jobs to millions of Americans during the Great Depression. The FERA was instrumental in helping to alleviate poverty and providing employment opportunities during the Great Depression.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) — An agency created by the National Housing Act of 1934 as part of the New Deal. The FHA was responsible for providing mortgage insurance to lenders, which allowed them to make home loans with lower down payments and easier credit requirements. This helped to increase homeownership and provided jobs to thousands of Americans during the Great Depression. The FHA helped stabilize the housing market and provide employment opportunities during the Great Depression.

Glass-Steagall Act (1933) — The Glass-Steagall Act was a law passed by Congress in 1933 as part of the New Deal. It was designed to separate commercial and investment banking, and it prohibited banks from engaging in certain types of speculative investments. The act also established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which provided insurance for bank deposits up to a certain amount. The Glass-Steagall Act helped restore public confidence in the banking system and prevent another financial crisis.

National Industrial Recovery Act (1933) —  The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) was a law passed by Congress in 1933 as part of the New Deal. It was designed to stimulate economic growth by providing government assistance to businesses, setting minimum wages and maximum hours for workers, and establishing codes of fair competition. The NIRA also established the National Recovery Administration (NRA), which was responsible for enforcing the provisions of the act. The NIRA was eventually declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1935.

The Public Works Administration (PWA) — An agency created by the National Recovery Administration of 1933 as part of the New Deal. The PWA was responsible for providing jobs to millions of Americans during the Great Depression. It provided employment in construction, repair, and maintenance projects such as building roads, bridges, and public buildings. The PWA played an important role in helping to alleviate poverty and providing employment opportunities during the Great Depression.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) — An agency created by the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933 as part of the New Deal. The TVA was responsible for developing the infrastructure and resources of the Tennessee Valley region, including hydroelectric power, flood control, navigation, reforestation, and soil conservation. It also provided jobs to thousands of Americans during the Great Depression. The TVA played an important role in helping modernize the region and providing employment opportunities during the Great Depression.

Second New Deal Programs

Committee for Industrial Organizations (CIO) — An organization formed in 1935 as part of the Second New Deal. The CIO was responsible for organizing workers into unions and bargaining collectively with employers.

Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) — An act passed in 1938 as part of the Second New Deal. The Fair Labor Standards Act was responsible for establishing a minimum wage, overtime pay, and other labor standards.

National Labor Relations Act (1935) — An act passed in 1935 as part of the Second New Deal. The NLRA was responsible for protecting the rights of workers to organize and bargain collectively with their employers. It also established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which was responsible for enforcing the provisions of the act.

Social Security Act (1935) — An act passed as part of the Second New Deal. The Social Security Act was responsible for providing economic security to Americans through the establishment of a federal retirement program and other welfare programs. It also provided unemployment insurance and disability benefits.

Wagner Act — Also known as the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), it was passed in 1935 as part of the Second New Deal. The Wagner Act was responsible for protecting the rights of workers to organize and bargain collectively with their employers. It also established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which was responsible for enforcing the provisions of the act.

Works Progress Administration (WPA) — An agency created by the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 as part of the Second New Deal. The WPA was responsible for providing jobs to millions of Americans during the Great Depression. It funded a variety of projects, including construction, infrastructure development, and arts and culture programs. The WPA was instrumental in helping to stimulate the economy and providing employment opportunities during the Great Depression.

More New Deal Terms and Definitions

21st Amendment — The amendment to the U.S. Constitution that repealed the 18th Amendment and ended Prohibition. The 21st Amendment was ratified in 1933 as part of the New Deal and allowed states to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol within their borders. It also gave states the power to collect taxes on alcohol sales, which provided a much-needed source of revenue during the Great Depression.

Boondoggling — A term coined by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to describe wasteful government spending on public works projects. The term was used to criticize the New Deal programs, which were seen as a form of government waste and corruption. Boondoggling became a popular term during the Great Depression and is still used today to refer to any wasteful or unnecessary government spending.

Tennessee River Valley — The Tennessee River Valley refers to the region in the southeastern United States encompassing parts of Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky. It gained prominence during the New Deal era due to the establishment of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a federal agency tasked with developing the area’s water resources, controlling flooding, and promoting economic development through hydroelectric power generation and irrigation projects.

National Parks — National Parks are protected areas designated by the federal government to preserve and showcase the country’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage. These areas, managed by the National Park Service, offer opportunities for recreation, conservation, and education. Notable examples include Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon. National Parks serve as significant landmarks and contribute to the nation’s tourism industry and environmental conservation efforts.

Why is the New Deal important?

The New Deal is important to United States history for several reasons:

1. Response to the Great Depression: The New Deal was a direct response to the economic crisis of the Great Depression, which was one of the most challenging periods in American history. It represented a major shift in the role of the federal government in addressing economic issues and providing relief to citizens.

2. Economic Recovery and Relief: The New Deal implemented a range of programs and policies aimed at stabilizing the economy, creating jobs, and providing relief to those affected by the Great Depression. It helped alleviate immediate suffering and provided assistance to millions of Americans through employment, financial aid, and social welfare programs.

3. Expansion of Federal Government Power: The New Deal marked a significant expansion of the federal government’s role in regulating the economy and addressing social issues. It introduced new agencies and programs, such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Social Security, that had long-lasting impacts on American society and established a precedent for increased government intervention in the economy.

4. Transformation of American Society: The New Deal’s programs had a transformative effect on American society. It brought about improvements in infrastructure, public works, and conservation projects, enhancing the nation’s physical landscape. It also introduced labor reforms, such as the right to unionize and the establishment of minimum wage standards, which aimed to improve working conditions and workers’ rights.

5. Legacy and Long-Term Impacts: Many of the programs and policies initiated during the New Deal era had lasting impacts on American society. Social Security, for example, continues to provide financial security to elderly and disabled Americans. The New Deal also shaped the political landscape, as the Democratic Party under FDR gained support from various social groups and established a coalition that would dominate American politics for decades.

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• Was the New Deal a Success?

To answer the question, ‘was the New Deal a success?’ we first have to define ‘success’. For Franklin D Roosevelt (FDR) in 1933, success meant working towards relief and recovery.

However, over time the idea of success evolved. By 1936 many hoped that the New Deal could provide solutions to a huge range of social, political and economic problems. With such high expectations, the New Deal was destined to be the subject of both praise and criticism.

FDR’s First Hundred Days were a success in many ways. As Roosevelt said in 1933: “All we have to fear is fear itself.”

Through his ‘fireside chats’ he managed to restore confidence in the banks - a vital element of recovery. Roosevelt took on the role of commander in chief during wartime by working quickly and confidently. On his first night in office he directed Treasurer William Woodin to draft an emergency banking bill. He then halted transactions in gold and proclaimed a national bank holiday. This fast and assertive action was welcomed by the public and proved Roosevelt’s success as a leader.

The New Deal was also effective in offering relief to the poor. Relief schemes, such as the CWA and WPA, provided jobs and support for millions of Americans.

However, the New Deal was less successful in terms of recovery. The figures below show the slow America’s slow recovery.

America's Gross National Product 1928 to 1939:

Amount of consumer goods brought 1928 to 1939:, private investment in industry:.

These figures show that FDR was not able to return the American economy to 1929 levels. However, considering the brevity of the depression this would have been virtually impossible anyway. Moreover, the figures do show a marked improvement in the economy in 1939, compared to 1933.

The New Deal is often criticised for not actually ending the Great Depression . Recovery was painfully slow and throughout the decade unemployment remained high.

Number Unemployed in America:

Those who criticise the New Deal claim that it never laid the foundations to end unemployment. Although “Alphabet” Agencies, such as the Civilian Corps, put many Americans to work, they did not offer a long-term solution. In 1938 unemployment increased again to over 10 million. It only began to fall steeply again in 1939 when the US began to build up its armaments in case of war.

Economists who attacked the New Deal claimed that all the acts introduced by the New Deal were short-term policies and that there was no long term planning for America's future.

But despite its economic weaknesses, the New Deal successfully restored the confidence of the American people. Through the New Deal, Roosevelt changed the role of government forever.

See also: USA 1919

MLA Citation/Reference

"Was the New Deal a Success?". HistoryLearning.com. 2024. Web.

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Did New Deal Programs Help End the Great Depression?

By: Brian Dunleavy

Updated: September 10, 2018 | Original: August 13, 2018

Since the late 1930s, conventional wisdom has held that President Franklin D. Roosevelt ’s “ New Deal ” helped bring about the end of the Great Depression . The series of social and government spending programs did get millions of Americans back to work on hundreds of public projects across the country.

But in the 80 years since the Great Depression was formally declared over in June of 1938, historians and economists have continued to debate the true merits of the New Deal and whether, in fact, the radical government spending programs brought about the end of the biggest economic downturn in history.

Many New Deal programs established critical economic safeguards.

“The reforms put in place by New Deal, including encouraging the beginning of the labor movement , which fostered wage growth and sustained the purchasing power of millions of Americans, the establishment of Social Security and the federal regulations imposed on the financial industry, as imperfect as they were, essentially ensured there wouldn’t be another Great Depression after the 1930s,” says Nelson Lichtenstein , professor of history and director of the Center for the Study of Work, Labor and Democracy at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

“And there hasn’t been. We’ve had a few close calls, but nothing like the Great Depression,” he says.

But, just because the United States hasn’t repeated the economic catastrophe of the Great Depression doesn’t mean the programs of the New Deal can take all the credit. Other factors were also at play—including the onset of a major world war. “It really could be argued World War II , which ultimately lowered unemployment and increased GNP through weapons production really played a much bigger role,” Lichtenstein says.

Still, as Dr. Lichtenstein notes, several programs created through the New Deal did have a lasting positive impact on the U.S. economy which was flagging throughout the 1930s, among them the Social Security Act , which provided income for the elderly, disabled and children of poor families. The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation , which effectively insured the savings of Americans in the event of a bank failure, which was all too common at the time.

The modern labor movement was born out of New Deal initiatives.

In addition, Lichtenstein notes, the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933 was enacted to foster “fair competition” through the fixing of prices and wages and the establishment of production quotas, among other measures.

The subsequent National Labor Relations Act of 1935 allowed for collective bargaining and essentially led to the development of the labor movement in the United States, which protected workers’ rights and wages.

But New Deal programs alone weren’t enough to end the Great Depression.

According to Linda Gordon , professor of history at New York University, the Works Progress Administration , created in 1935, also had a positive impact by employing more than 8 million Americans in building projects ranging from bridges and airports to parks and schools.

Such programs certainly helped end the Great Depression, “but were insufficient [because] the amount of government funds for stimulus wasn’t large enough,” she notes. “Only World War II, with its demands for massive war production, which created lots of jobs, ended the Depression.”

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Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Essay

FDR (Franklin D. Roosevelt) engaged in a program that was referred to as the New Deal. According to the program, the federal government would take more roles so as to improve the citizen’s economic welfare. The economic system was exceptionally poor when Roosevelt became the president in 1933.

A majority of the state governments had taken a banking holiday, which aimed at preventing depositors from destroying the banking institutions. The banks would be ruined if depositors withdrew all their cash. Roosevelt gave all banking institutions four days for holiday. Consequently, Roosevelt pressured the Congress and obtained a legislation for reopening the banks.

The federal government certified that all banks were sound for reopening. Afterwards, there were several banking reforms. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation allowed deposits to be insured.

According to the New Deal, a larger percent of the federal government funds would be used to pay all needy citizens. Grants, as opposed to loans, would be given to the needy citizens. A number of novel agencies were initiated to ensure that the unemployed benefitted from government- sponsored jobs.

The WPA (Works Progress Administration) initiated special projects, which offered jobs to the unskilled and skilled citizens. People trained as musicians, actors, artists, and writers benefitted from such employment. The PWA (Public Works Administration) initiated projects such as construction of dams, sports centers, and highways. The young men benefitted from conservation projects since they were employed by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps).

In my opinion, photographs and paintings are not simply a recording of the past. On the contrary, they are fashioned and composed descriptions, which detail the past. Dorothea Lange’s photos were constructed to give different stories. The photographs advocated for sympathy for all poor people.

Dorothea was a renowned documentary photographer in America. Particularly, she was extremely popular for the Great Depression chronicles and the photographs involving migratory farm employees. She created photographs for the FSA (Farm Security Administration), which were assessing the farm worker’s living conditions in California. A majority of the laborers had migrated to the west as an escape strategy from the Dust Bowl.

Dorothea took photographs, which depicted the depression in human lives. In 1934, Dorothea had the first show. It exhibited various issues, which were facing the government. These included breadline recipients, labor leaders, strike rallies, and political demonstrations. After presenting her photographs during the show, Dorothea got a job with the New Deal Administration.

The photographs were utilized as symbols of the White Angel Breadline migrant, which occurred in 1933 in San Francisco. Dorothea communicated the urgent need for government action to help the destitute Americans. 1939 was declared the year of a novel start.

The Florence Owens Thompson sequence of photographs had a picture of a migrant mother. Moreover, the series showed an underprivileged Californian pea picker. In another photograph, there was a migratory cotton picker from Mexico who was aged ten years. In the picture, the boy was working on the family car and was unable to attend school.

According to him, the father never allowed him to go to school since he was supposed to pick cotton. The boy picked approximately twenty five pounds of cotton every day. In my opinion, this was child labor. In essence, Dorothea’s photos and Roosevelt New Deal had a common goal; fighting for the rights of the underprivileged Americans.

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The New Deal, Essay Example

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When a national economy is shattered, as was the case in the Great Depression in the United States, it is inevitable that those lower on the socio-economic scale bear a greater brunt of the impact. The Depression vastly influenced all working people in the nation, of course, and its effects have been well-documented. More than half of all American families in the 1930s lived on annual incomes of between $500 and $1,500, and the lowest amount considered necessary for an average standard of living was $2,500 (Cravens 46). This was a devastating and widespread crisis affecting virtually all. Nonetheless, as such a crisis demands from a society a paring down of opportunities, those on the lower ends of employment and status were the hardest hit. African Americans had not enjoyed anything like equal employment status during the prosperous 1920s, and the same bias became more pronounced when the Depression struck. Black workers were dismissed immediately and in vast numbers, as the severe conditions enabled discrimination to become overt. If, in good times, it was acceptable to hire blacks, it was seen as necessary to sacrifice them in order to promote better chances of white survival. The numbers are striking; in Detroit, for example, blacks made up four percent of the population but accounted for over 25 percent of relief cases (Cravens 106).

For Mexicans and Latin American, it was worse. Only a decade earlier, the U.S. had actively encouraged Hispanic immigration, chiefly to meet the labor needs of the new industries. With the Depression, new laws were enacted and there began a widespread deportation process, and hundreds of thousands of Mexicans were sent back to their native country (Cafferty, Engstrom 38). The circumstances were different for women. For most, the Depression translated into something of an elevation in status; the homemaker, wife, and mother was now critically important in keeping the family together through economizing (Cravens 47). The government greatly reinforced the role of women in domestic life as crucial to seeing the nation through. At the same time, women fared as badly as blacks and Hispanics in terms of securing work outside the home. They were, like the blacks, immediately dismissed from jobs because it was felt that the few available rightly belonged to men. There was as well another backlash; as jobs were scarce, it was believed that women should be legally banned from working in cases where the husband had a job (Craven 46). Not unexpectedly, minority women were less able to find work, as those few jobs offered to women were given to whites.

The New Deal would radically change a variety of all these circumstances, and perhaps the most notable was in regard to Native Americans. Like other minorities, they were generally discarded when the Depression struck. However, and largely due to the efforts of Secretary of the Interior John Collier, Native Americans were addressed constructively by the New Deal. Collier promoted the culture and worked to destroy the reservation system, and give to the population sovereignty taken from them. His aims were defeated by Congress, however, and the result was that, while greater attention was given to tribal life, conditions for Native Americans worsened with the New Deal (Miller, Cherny, & Gormly 646). Essentially, segregation would continue to deny Native Americans opportunities.

For others, however, there were great improvements. The Roosevelt government, and particularly through the presence of Eleanor Roosevelt, made great efforts to create jobs for women, even as the administration of the New Deal agencies supplied women with clerical work. There was bias and women still received less pay, but they were now accepted as a significant part of the workforce (Miller, Cherny, & Gormly 643). In his 1936 address to the nation, Roosevelt made it clear that his administration would be devoted to providing opportunity equally as the New Deal continued to unfold (Ourdocuments.gov). As women were increasingly acknowledged and provided with work, government agencies carefully ensured that blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities would not be overlooked. Most significantly, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), funded by the federal government, created jobs for minorities, and the numbers of blacks who switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party attests to the support perceived (Miller, Cherny, & Gormly 646). Certainly, life remained hard as the Depression went on, but the New Deal appears to have “leveled” the opportunity bases and promoted the interests of women and minorities.

This as the legacy of the New Deal is, however, disputed. Historians have been widely divided as to the lasting good of it, or even its efficacy at the time, in all the decades since. Even those who defend the New Deal’s policies point out important failings of it, as in its lack of concern for rural poverty and issues. Industrialization and modernization were central to WPA efforts, and large areas of the nation were, it is felt, ignored. Rural poverty increased, in fact, as agricultural business grew (Cravens 116). It has also been observed that the tensions between the Roosevelt administration and the business community exacerbated issues; government-funded operations succeeded, but resistance from the private sector illustrates how the government failed to bring business in line with its own agendas (Cravens 151). There is, in a word, no shortage of criticism as to the effects and legacy of the New Deal. At the same time, it must be remembered that this was a drastic era in American life, and only drastic measures could begin to address the conditions created by the Great Depression. It is likely that no government initiative at this time could have addressed so many, enormous problems. Then, and states of discrimination in place then and lingering afterward, the New Deal and the Roosevelt administration did make important strides in promoting equality. To assert that these strides were not wholly effective is to ignore the times and conditions in which they were made. It is regrettable that there were significant failures, as in the intentions to create independent Native American communities. What is equally important, however, is that the New Deal broke new ground, and made overt and consistent efforts to supply opportunity to all Americans in a time when another government might well have ignored women and minority populations.

Works Cited

Cafferty, P. S. J., & Engstrom, D. W. Hispanics in the United States: An Agenda for the Twenty- First Century. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, 2002. Print.

Cravens, H. Great Depression: People and Perspectives . Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2009. Print.

Miller, C. L., Cherny, R. W., & Gormly, J. L. Making America: A History of the United States: Since 1865, Volume 2 . Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

Ourdocuments.gov. Transcript of President Franklin Roosevelt’s Radio Address Unveiling the Second Half of the New Deal (1936). N/D. Web.

<http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=69&page=transcript

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Donald Trump could face prison time if he is convicted in upcoming NY hush money trial

If former President Donald Trump is convicted on all counts in his New York criminal hush money trial that begins April 15, he could theoretically face more than a decade in prison.

But most legal experts who spoke to USA TODAY said such a dramatic outcome is unlikely. Instead, he would likely be sentenced to something between probation and four years in prison. And he would probably still be out, free to campaign for president as the presumptive or actual 2024 Republican nominee, while his all-but-certain appeal was pending.

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Each count carries a maximum sentence of four years.

While Trump could in principle be sentenced to serve multiple counts consecutively, several experts said that is unlikely because he has no felony criminal record and the charges don't involve allegations of physical violence.

On the other hand, Trump has tested boundaries and feuded with the judge who may determine his fate.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Trump has antagonized Judge Juan Merchan

Trump's sentence would be decided by Judge Juan Merchan, who has grown exasperated by the former president's pretrial behavior. Merchan expanded a gag order this month after Trump attacked the judge's daughter on social media over her marketing work with Democratic candidates, including posting a photo of her. Merchan said Trump has a history of attacking the family members of judges and lawyers in his legal cases.

"The average observer, must now, after hearing Defendant's recent attacks, draw the conclusion that if they become involved in these proceedings, even tangentially, they should worry not only for themselves,  but for their loved ones as well ," Merchan wrote in his gag order decision .

John Moscow, a New York lawyer who spent 30 years in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, told USA TODAY that type of behavior could worsen any sentence Trump faces.

"If I were representing somebody in (Trump's) position, I would suggest to him that the judge is the one who imposes sentence and he ought to be careful," Moscow said.

If Merchan did consider a hefty sentence, it wouldn't be the first time he has taken a harsh view about behavior in Trump's orbit.

In 2023, Merchan was forced to sentence former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg to only five months in jail because Merchan had previously accepted a plea bargain agreement between Weisselberg and prosecutors specifying that jail term. Weisselberg pleaded guilty to tax and record falsification charges and agreed to testify against the Trump Organization at trial in order to get that sentence.

The judge said, however, that he "would be imposing a sentence much greater than that" had he not accepted the plea bargain before hearing all the evidence at the trial. Without the plea deal, Weisselberg could have faced many years in prison.

What is Trump charged with?

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all counts in the case, which focuses on whether he falsified business records to cover up reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels. Daniels has said she had a sexual encounter with Trump soon after Melania Trump gave birth to their son, Barron Trump. Trump denies the claim.

In order to secure felony convictions, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office must convince a 12-person jury that Trump falsified the records in order to commit or conceal another crime. In this case, Bragg argues Trump was trying to conceal a federal campaign finance law violation by falsely recording his reimbursements to Cohen as payments for legal services. The federal violation was a limit-exceeding contribution to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, as the payment was allegedly designed to keep Daniels' story from hurting the then-Republican nominee's election prospects. Bragg also alleges Trump was trying to conceal a plan to violate New York tax and election laws.

Nothing in the Constitution prevents Trump from becoming president even if he is convicted or sentenced to prison. If he won the election, however, courts may delay any prison time until after his term in office expires .

What is the maximum possible sentence?

The 34 felony counts Trump faces are classified as "Class E felonies" under New York law – the lowest level felony in the state. The maximum penalty on each count is four years of prison, and a judge would have discretion over whether to order Trump to serve sentences on each count at the same time or one after the other. However, New York caps such sentencing for Class E felonies at 20 years .

In addition, New York judges often impose sentencing ranges, where an incarcerated person becomes eligible for parole at the low end of the range. For Class E felonies, the lowest end of a range would be one-and-a-third years per count, while the highest would be four years. Good behavior in jail or prison can speed things up even more.

A sentence limited to probation?

Merchan would also have discretion to order a fixed sentence of less than those ranges, including probation.

That's what Mitchell Epner, a New York lawyer with decades of criminal law experience, expects would happen even if Trump were convicted on all counts. Epner noted the felony charges aren't violent and don't involve drugs.

"With a defendant who has no prior criminal record, my absolute expectation would be a sentence of probation," Epner told USA TODAY.

Epner wasn't alone in thinking that could be the sentencing outcome.

"This is a case that does not involve any physical violence, and it doesn't – there's not sort of a 'named victim,' so to speak – and so the court is going to take that into consideration," Anna Cominsky, who directs the Criminal Defense Clinic at New York Law School, told USA TODAY.

"In addition, I think it is unlikely that he would be sent to prison given who he is, given both the fact that he has no criminal record, and there is no getting around the fact that he is a former president of the United States," Cominsky said.

Incarceration a real possibility

Norman Eisen, a Brookings Institution senior fellow who served as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during Trump's first impeachment, thought a sentence that includes some incarceration is likely.

Eisen co-authored a report looking at sentencing for other defendants with no criminal history who were convicted of falsifying business records in New York. There, he noted one construction executive was sentenced in 2015 to spend two days each week in jail for a year for falsifying records to conceal payments in a bribery scheme. In 2013, two corporate executives were ordered to spend four to six months in jail for falsifying records to misclassify their salaries as expenses under their employer's larger bribery and fraud scheme.

"I think he's likely to face a sentence of incarceration if he's convicted," Eisen told USA TODAY.

Cominsky said the evidence Merchan hears at trial could also influence his thinking when it comes to sentencing.

"Often you'll hear judges refer to testimony at trial, evidence that was presented at trial, and say, 'This is why I'm imposing this sentence, because I heard from this particular witness or I saw this particular piece of evidence,'" Cominsky said.

Moscow pushed back against the assumption that Trump's sentences on each count would run simultaneously, instead of being stacked on top of each other. Just as a judge may take into account that a defendant has won a Nobel Peace Prize or lifted orphans from poverty, the judge may look at significant evidence of bad acts, Moscow said.

"When you start attacking the judge's daughter, and making her out to be a target, you have just breached the normal rules," Moscow said.

Trump has also posted a photo of himself wielding a bat, with his eyes directed toward an adjacent photo of Bragg, among other attacks on the district attorney. Bragg's office has received thousands of harassing emails, calls, and texts – including death threats – after Trump's social media attacks, it said in a court filing .

Diana Florence, a New York lawyer who spent decades in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, said Merchan's sentence would need to have some relation to what other white-collar defendants in similar cases have received, and she would be surprised if someone had ever gotten a sentencing range for falsifying business records with a minimum of 10 years or more.

Such a long sentence "would be very, very, very, very unusual, and if Judge Merchan wanted to make a point and do that, I highly doubt the appellate division would allow that to stand," she said. "It's just too much time for the conduct."

However, Florence added that a reasonable sentencing range could include a minimum period of more than a year incarcerated.

Sentencing someone with Secret Service protection?

Contemplating any jail or prison sentence would take Merchan into unchartered territory: Trump is the first former president ever criminally charged, and the Secret Service provides him with around-the-clock security.

But avoiding a sentence of incarceration on that basis risks undermining the idea of equal treatment under the law, Moscow suggested.

"If I were the judge − and I don't know what a judge would do in this case − I would reject out of hand the concept that because he was once president, and because as a matter of policy the Secret Service guards former presidents, that therefore he can't go to jail," Moscow said.

The question would then become how to reconcile equal treatment with ensuring a former president's security, according to Moscow. The judge could get creative, for example by ordering the former president to stay in a hotel wing or at a military base, where he is isolated just like any other prisoner but still has Secret Service protection.

"You can structure things to achieve the proper result without conceding that the defendant has the upper hand," Moscow said.

Chances of immediate prison? 'Less than 1%'

Many convicted defendants are "remanded" pending sentencing, a process in which they are taken into custody while they await their sentence, Florence said.

But Florence didn't expect Merchan to give that order when it comes to Trump, and even if Merchan did, Trump would likely be able to get bail set by an appeals court in the thousands of dollars to stay free during his appeal. That's all the more likely if Trump receives a low sentence, since the appeal could take longer than his actual sentence, she said.

"The chances of him going to prison immediately, even if he's convicted in whatever, six weeks from now or whenever, are I would say less than 1% because he would immediately be released on bail pending appeal," according to Florence.

Eisen agreed Trump probably wouldn't be incarcerated by Election Day, even if he's convicted on all counts.

"I think he's extremely unlikely to be forced to serve that sentence pending appeal," Eisen said.

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Editorial: The Chevrons (and some good form on the pitch) are returning to Sunderland!

As SAFC’s chief brand & commercial officer David Bruce said this week: “our fans deserve the best”. Points on the board, better performances and a popular new kit deal have helped to lift the mood on Wearside!

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Well, i have to hold up my hands - i never saw that coming..

Fair play to Mike Dodds, the coaches, and the players... to take four points from the last two games is some going given where we find ourselves at this stage of the season, and what’s riding on these games for Leeds and WBA. Both teams needed the win and we were able to deny them it, so you have to give credit where it’s due.

The cynic in me would probably ask where this level of performance was a few months ago when we were still in the playoff race, but we can’t change the past and at least they’ve reacted well — particularly after the Blackburn tonking — and we seem to be ending the season on a more positive note.

I wrote last week about the importance of doing just that, because it’s multi-faceted. A good finish improves our chances of retaining good players, it improves our chances of attracting a top head coach, it improves our chances of signing good players over the summer, it improves the morale of the fanbase; it improves everything.

We’ve still got three games left to go, but if we can nab another couple of wins from the remaining games (I’m expecting Sheffield Wednesday to be the toughest game given their relegation scrap could go down to the final day, and they’re a much better side than they were at the start of the season) then we can think more glass half full than glass half empty about the summer to come.

I predicted we’d get battered off Leeds and was pleasantly surprised by what we got from the Lads — yeah we rode our luck at times, but we grafted hard as a team. I don’t know if it’s just the reintroduction of several important players who have been missing with injury or not, but it certainly seems to have helped lift the mood. That draw and performance coupled with some other canny news has calmed everyone down, and it feels like we’re getting over whatever had been hampering us for the last few months on and off the pitch.

There was the announcement this week of the new kit deal with Hummel, and that probably gave the fanbase more of a boost than I might have realised it would initially. It gave everyone something positive to talk about during the week, and had us all reminiscing about iconic looks from the past — and then the players were pictured arriving at the Hawthorns on Saturday in their trendy new/old Hummel shellsuits, which are a tribute to the ones worn by the 1992 FA Cup Finalists.

Subtly, the kit stuff is a sign that there will be a fresh coat of paint over everything from this summer. As David Bruce (the club’s Chief Brand and Commercial Officer) said when the deal was announced:

Our fans deserve the best and this agreement represents that – it’s for our people, our Club, and our city.

Some may just think this is the club paying us lip service, but it does feel like there has been a recognition from those higher up at the club that supporters need to feel like they’re a part of big decisions going forward. When was the last time we had a kit deal that had the supporters at the heart of it? Everything since the switch to Nike has been a disaster, and to call it non-league is an insult to non-league clubs who have a far better merchandising setup than Sunderland have had over the last five years.

It was reflected in the statement from Kyril Louis-Dreyfus which was read out at the start of a recent Supporters Collective meeting, in relation to the catastrophic way in which the Wear-Tyne Derby was handled.

At the last meeting with Supporters’ groups, we made a commitment to putting fans at the heart of all that we do. That commitment is unwavering, and as supporters you will soon start to see meaningful change. We understand where we need to improve, and this includes an ongoing requirement to continually develop our people and refine our processes. In the coming months, we are excited about bringing that commitment to life and embracing it throughout all levels of our Club.

There was also the announcement of multi-million pound investment into the club’s facilities, where again it was reiterated by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus that these decisions were being made with the interests of the fans in mind:

These upgrades signify a dramatic shift in our approach to matchday experience and each development will bring lasting benefits to our loyal supporters. The improvements we are making will enhance matchday now and in the future, and we can’t wait to experience them side by side with our fans when we return to the Stadium of Light for the new season.

This also included a promise that the club would work with fan groups to identify issues with the facilities at the Stadium as they bid to continually improve things further.

All good stuff, providing they stick to their word.

This isn’t to say that they’ve now got everyone back onside just because of a fan-friendly kit deal and investment in facilities, but it’s certainly a start and it’s a promising sign that they’re listening properly to legitimate concerns.

At the end of the day, all we want as fans is for the club to be successful, and for big decisions to make sense. I’ve heard Kristjaan Speakman use the iceberg analogy a lot recently — his feeling that, like an iceberg, fans only see ten percent of what actually goes on at the club as the other ninety percent lies under the surface and out of sight — so really, it’s important that for the stuff we can see and that we are aware of that they keep the fans as close to it as we can be.

That, coupled by a nice end to the season, would give us a massive leg up in the summer.

Fan Letters: “Sunderland might’ve struck gold with a different system!”

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Critics slam potential New York State housing deal as Gov. Hochul wrangles with lawmakers

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A range of critics have begun to pounce as Gov. Hochul and New York state lawmakers draw closer to a housing deal that would revive a tax break for developers and provide new good cause eviction protections to tenants.

The Democratic governor and Democratic legislative leaders in Albany have yet to strike a final deal on housing, but the broad brush strokes appear clear: a deal likely would include pared-down good cause protections to limit landlords’ ability to evict residents or sharply hike their rents, and would offer a tax break to developers that build set amounts of affordable housing.

The governor, a centrist, and the more left-leaning lawmakers who rule the Legislature have been buffeted on the one side by progressives who want stronger tenant protections and on the other by a real estate industry that is resistant to those protections.

Going into the weekend, lawmakers were pushing back against proposed exemptions that would prevent a large number New Yorkers from enjoying the tenant protections, according to a person with knowledge of the talks. The leaders of the Senate and Assembly spent much of the weekend negotiating with Hochul, who had supported a broader exemption.

Lawmakers said Monday that disagreements over the housing compromise continued to delay broader talks over the budget, which is already more than two weeks late.

But even without a final deal, critics are weighing in.

The Legal Aid Society said in a statement Friday that negotiations were headed toward a “blank check to the real estate industry and a raw deal for the countless New Yorkers from all across the state who are facing housing insecurity.”

“Gov. Hochul and the Legislature have completely squandered a moment, one that has been years in the making, to finally equip our clients with meaningful tenant protections,” said Legal Aid’s statement.

Aaron Sirulnick, chairman of the board of the Rent Stabilization Association, which represents property owners, meanwhile said Albany was circling a deal that would hamstring landlords’ ability to renovate rent-stabilized buildings.

“Already burdened with escalating maintenance and compliance costs, rent-stabilized buildings — many at or approaching 100 years old — have nothing to applaud in Albany’s economics-denying attempt to placate everyone while actually accomplishing nothing,” Sirulnick said in a statement.

The Albany housing talks come as New York City grapples with a severe housing crunch that has hit working-class residents especially hard. Rental apartment vacancy is the lowest it has been in more than five decades, and half of New Yorkers are struggling to afford the basics.

Mayor Adams and his administration have been calling on Albany to secure a housing deal for months, saying they cannot holistically tackle the problem without the state’s help. A replacement of 421-a, the expired tax break, has been described as crucial given the slump in housing production.

“We know that the housing crisis has reached a fever pitch in this city,” Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer said Monday at a state budget briefing hosted by New York Law School. “That is heartbreaking, but I think helps show the need for action.”

Torres-Springer, who has expressed support for the tentative Albany deal, struck an optimistic tone, saying it could come together within days.

“The details of course matter. We have to get the policies right,” she said. “But what I’m hoping is that if this framework comes together we use it as an opportunity not to finger-point, not to armchair quarterback in every single way, but to say ‘let’s make use of these tools,’ because that’s what New Yorkers deserve.”

The Adams administration previously set a “moonshot” housing goal to create 500,000 new homes over the next decade. The mayor’s cornerstone housing plan, City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, is designed to spur more housing by loosening zoning restrictions. But it faced opposition even before a full draft text was released last week.

The plan will begin formal public review later this year.

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A Looming Question for Paramount’s Board: How to Navigate Shari Redstone

The board of directors has to walk a fine line, looking out for investors without running afoul of Ms. Redstone, the company’s most influential shareholder.

By Benjamin Mullin and Lauren Hirsch

Shari Redstone won control over her media empire in 2018 after a hard-fought struggle with CBS. In the years since, she held off on selling the family business, merging Viacom and CBS to put iconic franchises like “60 Minutes” and “Top Gun” under one roof.

Now, Ms. Redstone has decided to sell her controlling stake in Paramount, a decision that could put her in conflict with some of the company’s shareholders.

The question that Paramount’s board has to answer — and may eventually have to defend in a courtroom: Is the deal under consideration good for all shareholders, or just Ms. Redstone?

“Are these decisions that are being made in the best interest of Paramount generally?” asked Eric Talley, a law professor at Columbia. “Or are they basically the types of decisions that are only going to give Shari Redstone a nice nut but pretty much stick it to the other minority shareholders?”

The challenge lies in the company’s complicated ownership structure. Ms. Redstone’s stake in Paramount is owned by National Amusements, a holding company that she controls. She has endorsed a deal to sell National Amusements to Skydance, a media company controlled by the tech scion and Hollywood executive David Ellison. Because of the structure of the deal, the sale of National Amusements hinges on a related agreement’s being reached for Skydance to merge with Paramount.

It’s common for influential shareholders like Ms. Redstone to be paid extra for their shares, commonly called a “control premium.” Under the deal terms currently under discussion, Ms. Redstone would be paid for all of National Amusements — including its theater chain, its real estate and its controlling stake in Paramount — potentially setting up different incentives for Ms. Redstone and everyone else who owns Paramount stock.

Some Paramount shareholders have expressed concerns that any transaction based on Paramount’s currently dwindling share price might undervalue the company.

To puzzle through the options, Paramount’s board has formed an independent committee, advised by Centerview Partners and the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore. If the terms aren’t appealing to the board, the board can decide not to recommend it, but that would mean opposing a deal that Ms. Redstone had already signed off on.

Special committees have played a starring and consequential role in some of the most notable transactions in U.S. corporate history, like R.J Reynolds’s acquisition of Nabisco and the buyout of Dell. These directors are well aware that their actions may be scrutinized by the courts later to determine whether they worked to get the best deal possible.

“The special committee has a lot of power,” said Jim Woolery, founder of Woolery & Company, an advisory firm. “They’re risk adverse, but they want to negotiate — and be seen to negotiate — and move the thing for the Paramount stockholders.” Mr. Woolery, who has worked with many special committees, called it a “chess game.”

The committee can take steps to minimize its risk, he said, like allowing a brief period for other bidders to make another offer for Paramount. The committee could also look to secure support from a majority of Paramount’s minority shareholders and be seen as moving Skydance’s bid up as best it can.

Ms. Redstone also has options to sell National Amusements by itself, which she is prepared to pursue if Paramount’s board does not recommend a deal with Skydance. A person familiar with her priorities said she was mindful of the potential for litigation and had been careful to leave discussions about Paramount’s future to the company’s special committee. She is the chair of Paramount’s board but has recused herself from the special committee.

Skydance and Paramount recently agreed to enter into exclusive talks, a significant step toward reaching a deal. Ms. Redstone and National Amusements are encouraged by Mr. Ellison’s vision for the combined company, according to the person familiar with her priorities, who said it called for Paramount to team up with another major company on a streaming joint venture in the United States.

A deal with Skydance could bring other opportunities to Paramount, including tech and animation know-how from Mr. Ellison’s management team, which includes John Lasseter, a former Pixar executive. The plan calls for Skydance to supercharge Paramount’s streaming capabilities, improving personalization with better algorithmic recommendations and making it more efficient through better deals with data providers. Ms. Redstone is encouraged by the access to capital and tech know-how that comes with Skydance’s association with the Ellison family.

Another big selling point: Skydance has ownership stakes in Paramount’s most financially successful shows and movies, like “Mission: Impossible” and “Top Gun,” and uniting the firms would give the combined company greater flexibility in managing its franchises.

Besides Skydance, only one other suitor has emerged. Apollo Global Management, an investment firm with more than $500 billion under management, sent a letter to Paramount late last month expressing its interest in acquiring all of Paramount for $26 billion.

“It is beyond baffling to see the Paramount board of directors ignore an all-cash offer for 100 percent of Paramount,” said Rich Greenfield, a media analyst.

Paramount decided not to engage with Apollo, with one person explaining that doing so could have derailed its advancing negotiations with Skydance without certainty that Apollo’s letter would lead to a deal.

Mr. Woolery, the corporate adviser, said Paramount could use Apollo’s bid to pressure Skydance to improve its offer. He added that, in situations like these, certainty of a deal could matter more than the size of the offer. And Apollo’s bid, which was not fully financed, would have been subject to due diligence.

The Skydance deal may also be unpopular with some of Paramount’s most influential shareholders. Mario Gabelli, whose firm owns 10 percent of Paramount’s voting stock — the same class of stock the Ms. Redstone owns — said he would prefer for the company to wait at least three years before considering a deal because he believed Paramount was currently undervalued.

Mr. Gabelli also said he wanted shareholders who owned the same class of stock as Ms. Redstone to be offered the same terms she was, essentially putting everyone on equal footing.

“The voting stock, which Shari controls at National Amusements, is entitled to a premium,” Mr. Gabelli said. “The question that will be decided if she does this is whether the control premium applies to all the voting shares and not just the ones owned by National Amusements.”

Not everyone is opposed to a deal at the outset. John W. Rogers Jr., whose firm, Ariel Investments, owned 1.8 percent of the company’s shares as of the end of last year, said he was reassured by the board’s creation of a special committee and by his conversations with management and the board.

Mr. Rogers said he was open to a bid from Skydance, as he believes that both Skydance and Paramount management know that the “real value is being able to put both companies together and benefit from the synergies, the cost-cuttings.”

To get his support, it is important that any buyer “pay a price that reflects the underlying value of the all the assets,” not its current stock price, Mr. Rogers said. He said there could be additional ways buyers could create value for shareholders through a deal, like spinning off certain parts of the business, possibly to private equity firms.

Benjamin Mullin reports on the major companies behind news and entertainment. Contact Ben securely on Signal at +1 530-961-3223 or email at [email protected]. More about Benjamin Mullin

Lauren Hirsch joined The Times from CNBC in 2020, covering deals and the biggest stories on Wall Street. More about Lauren Hirsch