Roosevelt's New Deal tried to tackle a range of issues.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] Level 1 One mark for each relevant point; additional mark for supporting detail
2. [1] The NIRA aimed to stabilise prices.
3. [1] It aimed to improve working conditions.
4. [1] It wanted to improve pay.
5. [1] It set up the NIRA to help achieve its aims.
6. [1] Consumers were urged to buy from businesses which signed up to the NIRA code to strengthen businesses which operated fairly.
7. [1] It aimed to prevent child labour.
8. [1] It aimed to help industries affected by the Great Depression.
9. [6] Level 4 Explains TWO reasons
10. [4-5] Level 3 Explains ONE reason
11. [4] One reason that Huey Long criticised the New Deal was that he thought that wealth was not spread equally in American society and that the New Deal should address this. He argued that vast fortunes should be confiscated from the rich and used to benefit society. He argued that redistributing wealth in this way would help to stimulate the economy and benefit all Americans.
12. [2-3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes reasons
13. [1] Huey Long thought the New Deal did not go far enough.
14. [1] He thought that wealth should be redistributed among the American people.
15. [1] He believed that minimum wages should be introduced to protect the standard of living of workers.
16. [1] He thought that old people were not treated fairly and should be given pensions.
17. [1] Long thought that all Americans should have access to free education.
18. [1] Long thought that too few Americans controlled too much of the country's wealth.
19. [1] Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge
20. [1] Huey Long had many reasons for disliking the New Deal.
21. [10] Level 5 Explains with evaluation of 'how far'
22. [7-9] Level 4 Explanation of both sides
23. [4-6] Level 3 One-sided explanation OR one explanation of both sides 5 to 6 marks
24. [4] To a large extent it is true that the New Deal restored American confidence in their government. Many had lost faith in the government following the Wall Street Crash and the collapse of the banks. They thought Hoover's government did not do enough to help them. FDR aimed to change this and spoke to the people through his fireside chats. He encouraged them to reinvest in the banks and introduced a huge range of agencies in the first few weeks of his administration to show people how he was prepared to help them. This was an important achievement of the New Deal.
25. [4] However, it could be argued that the New Deal was more important for getting America back on its feet financially. Without a viable banking system it would be impossible for the US economy to recover and this was the most important element of the New Deal. The Emergency Banking Act closed the unsound banks and those which remained were given government advice and grants. This made it possible to keep the economy viable and therefore economic recovery was possible.
26. [2-3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes
27. [1] The fireside chats gave people confidence in FDR.
28. [1] The First Hundred Days showed FDR was prepared to take action.
29. [1] FDR compared favourably to Hoover.
30. [1] The New Deal helped the unemployed.
31. [1] The New Deal gave emergency support to those who were hungry and homeless.
32. [1] Restoring the banks was an important element of the New Deal.
33. [1] Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge
34. [1] The New Deal did many things to help Americans.