Brain Trust SIMULATION

GROUP MEMBERS: 1.
2.
3.
4.
Time: November 1932: FDR was just elected and the Depression is at its deepest point
Situation: You have just graduated from a prestigious Law School (Yale, Columbia, or Harvard). You have been
invited to be a part of President Roosevelts Brain Trust, designed to brainstorm solutions and New Deal
programs to help resolve the problems and hardships brought on by the Great Depression.
Your Job: Form a group of 3 or 4. Choose three of the problems below.
1. List the three problems your group has chosen:
Problem A: ________________________________________
Problem B: ________________________________________
Problem C: ________________________________________

2. Brainstorm Solutions: There have been many solutions and New Deal programs proposed by many
experts from the Brain Trust. From the list provided at the Brain Trust meeting, identify which New
Deal programs you believe will be the most effective in solving the problems youve chosen.
A. Program(s) for Problem A:
i.
________________________________________
ii.
________________________________________
B. Program(s) for Problem B:
i.
________________________________________
ii.
________________________________________
C. Program(s) for Problem C:
i.
________________________________________
ii.
________________________________________

On a separate sheet of paper, write out a response for Steps 3 through 5:

*President Roosevelt wants action. You will propose the ideas for New Deal programs to President
Roosevelt. In your proposal, your group will explain HOW the New Deal programs will help solve the
problems and HOW your group proposes to fund these programs.
3. HOW will your proposed New Deal programs solve each problem? Be detailed and specific.
4. HOW will these New Deal programs be funded?
5. Include a CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS: solutions often cause other problems. Your group must brainstorm
possible problems caused by the New Deal solution or program. The President wants to know possible
consequences for all possible solutions.

Problems & Solutions

Problems
Trade

Farmers
Labor

Banking Problems
Natural Disasters
Unemployment
Fear
Education

International Trade dried up because of the Hawley Smoot Tariff and the enforcement
of Europes war debts to the U.S. Get world trade going again. Also, business
competition has become cut throat: work it out so businesses that make the same
product or service do not ruin each other and some how raise prices so you can have
the companies stay alive so they dont have to fire workers.
Solve the farmers problem of prices being too low. Dont have the government buy
food from the farmers because that will only make the farmers grow more.
Workers cannot unionize (collectively bargain) due to certain practices by employers
(black lists-making sure a union organizer is fired and never gets a job again by putting
his name on list) they also want a decent wage and eventually a 40 hour work week.
They would also like to avoid strikes; some form of negotiation procedure between boss
and worker
Fix the banking problems (runs on the bank, foreclosures, no cabinet post, deflation,
stock market).
Solve the flooding along the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers as well as the drought and Dust
Bowl that is about to come because of this drought and certain abuses by farmers and
cattlemen (over plowing and over grazing)
Find a way to solve the adult and youth employment problem.
Restore the hope and control the fear that is widespread in America. What can the
president do to sooth the fear that has caused riots and violence in America?
Many of our youth across the country have dropped out of school, brought on by the
hardships of the depression. Also, many college graduates are unable to find jobs.

Proposed New Deal Programs

Agricultural Adjustment Act AAA
Civil Works Administration CWA
Civilian Conservation Corps CCC
Federal Emergency Relief Act FERA
Glass-Steagall Act - FDIC
National Industrial Recovery Act NIRA
National Youth Administration NYA
Public Works Administration PWA
Rural Electrification Administration REA
Securities and Exchange Commission SEC
Social Security Act SSA
Tennessee Valley Authority TVA
Wagner Act NLRB
Works Progress Administration - WPA