Category Archives: 1930s

Federal Emergency Relief Administration, Agricultural Adjustment Administration created to help needy, farmers 80 years ago today (1933)

1930s


(Friday, May 12, 1933; part of the New Deal in response to the Great Depression) — The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) was signed into law today by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, giving the federal government the power to raise farm prices and to provide relief on farm mortgage foreclosures. Also known as the “Wagner Act”, the bill provided $500 million for farm relief.

Signed on the same day was the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), which would eventually spend four billion dollars to create job programs for unemployed U.S. workers.

Nazis celebrate May Day one day before banning trade unions 80 years ago today (1933)

1930s


Video: 'The World at War - Episode 1 - A New Germany' (May Day 1933 at 8:13)

(Monday, May 1, 1933) — The Nazis celebrated its brand-new official Labor Day holiday today with joyful events across Germany, most notably with a giant party on the grounds of Tempelhof airport in Berlin. The next day, however, it abruptly banned the trade unions, as police and Gestapo units raided union offices and confiscated their property.

U.S. goes off gold standard 80 years ago today (1933)

1930s


Video: 'FDR Ends Gold Standard in 1933'

(Wednesday, April 19, 1933; during the Great Depression) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt took the United States off the gold standard today by ordering that gold exports to other nations be halted. The effect would be to devalue the U.S. dollar by 36% (against gold-backed currencies) over the next eight months. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had increased by 55% on July 18, 1933.

President Roosevelt signs act creating Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) 80 years ago today (1933)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The CCC' (parts 1-5)

(Friday, March 31, 1933; during the Great Depression) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt today signed the Emergency Conservation Work Act, which created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which provided unskilled manual labor jobs related to the conservation and development of natural resources in rural lands owned by federal, state and local governments.

Zangara executed for killing Chicago Mayor Cermak in attempt on FDR’s life 80 years ago this hour (1933)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Attempted Assassination of Franklin D. Roosevelt'

(Monday, March 20, 1933, 9:27 a.m. local time) — The state of Florida electrocuted Giuseppe Zangara today for the shooting death of Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak at a Miami event attended by then President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt, the presumed target, on February 15, 1933.

Cermak died March 6, 1933, at a Miami hospital at age 59, two days after FDR took office.

’42nd Street’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago tonight (1933)

1930s, movies 1930s


Video: '42nd Street Trailer (1933)'

(Thursday, March 9, 1933) — 42nd Street, a musical film about a producer who puts on what may be his last Broadway show, and at the last moment a chorus girl has to replace the star, premiered today in New York City.

Directed by Lloyd Bacon and Busby Berkeley, the film starred Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers.

Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak, wounded in attempt on FDR’s life dies 80 years ago this hour (1933)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Attempted Assassination of Franklin D. Roosevelt'

(Monday, March 6, 1933, 6:57 a.m. local time) — Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak, wounded in the February 15, 1933, attempt on then-President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt’s life the previous month, died today at a Miami hospital at age 59, two days after FDR took office.

Gunman Giuseppe Zangara pleaded guilty to Cermak’s murder and was put to death in the electric chair just two weeks later on March 20, 1933.