What few people know about the program that "saved" America - Meg Jacobs

譯者: Regina Chu 審譯者: Yi-Ping Cho (Marssi)

In 1932, the Great Depression entered its third winter.

1932 年，經濟大蕭條進入第三個冬天

One in four Americans was unemployed,

每四位美國人就有一位失業

marking the highest unemployment rate in the country’s history.

失業率達到美國史上的最高點

Tens of thousands had lost their homes and life savings,

成千上萬人失去房子及畢生積蓄

and there was very little confidence that Republican President Herbert Hoover

大家對共和黨籍的胡佛總統毫無信心

could turn things around.

認為他無力回天

So when the election came, voters flocked to his Democratic competitor.

所以當大選來臨 選票蜂擁投入他的民主黨對手

Franklin D. Roosevelt promised a New Deal for Americans—

小羅斯福的競選支票「新政」

a comprehensive set of legislation to support struggling citizens

承諾要立一系列的法律 以援助掙扎的百姓

and put the country back to work.

並振興國家

The massive federal intervention Roosevelt proposed was a radical challenge

這項由小羅斯福提出的 大規模聯邦干預政策

徹底挑戰主導美國人生活的個人主義理想

to the individualist ideals that governed many Americans’ lives.

But due to the extreme circumstances,

但是由於情況極為特殊

he began his presidency with public and political support.

他在公眾及政治的支持下就任總統

With the help of his advisers, Roosevelt’s first hundred days in office

小羅斯福的顧問幫助他 讓他在位的頭一百天

were perhaps the most eventful of any US president.

成為美國總統史上最「多事」的時間

In just over three months, he pushed over 15 bills through Congress

短短三個多月內 他就透過國會推出了十五個法案

and created an “alphabet soup” of government agencies

並成立了如英文字母般多的政府機構

to help farmers, workers, and businesses.

以幫助農民、勞工及企業

The New Deal’s first priority was stabilizing the banks.

新政的首要任務為穩定銀行

Over the previous three years, many Americans had withdrawn their savings

過去三年，許多美國人把儲蓄擠兌出來

out of fear the bank would lose their money in bad investments.

因為怕銀行會因不當投資 而使他們的錢虧損

So to regain the public's confidence,

所以為了重建大眾的信心

FDR increased federal oversight of commercial banks,

小羅斯福增加了聯邦對商業銀行的監督

and created bank insurance to guarantee that any deposited funds

並開始銀行保險制度

以保證銀行有錢可以讓人隨時提款

would always be available.

Next, he established the Federal Emergency Relief Administration.

然後，他設立聯邦緊急救援署

FERA cataloged each state’s need for relief

這個單位編列每一州所需的救援

and provided funds to help citizens afford groceries, rent, clothing, coal,

並提供資金以幫助人民 支付食品雜貨、房租、衣服、煤炭

and other necessities.

及其他民生必需品

Meanwhile, the Agricultural Adjustment Administration subsidized farmers

同時，農業調整管理局補助農民

and educated them in improving planting techniques.

並教育他們改良種植技術

These policies fed and housed thousands,

這些政策解決了成千上萬人吃住的問題

but they didn’t significantly address the New Deal’s biggest promise:

卻沒有明顯兌現新政最大的承諾：

reducing unemployment.

減少失業率

So the Civilian Conservation Corps was established to employ

所以平民保育團就此成立

over 250,000 young men for projects

以僱用超過二十五萬的年輕人

like tree planting, irrigation, and fire prevention.

參與如種樹、灌溉及防火等計畫

The CCC offered onsite work camps

平民保育團在工地現場紮營

that provided food, shelter, and education to those employed;

提供食宿並教育員工

mostly young, single men with families in need of relief.

大多數是年輕的單身男性 有家人需要救濟

Subsequent programs like the Works Progress Administration

後續計畫如公共事業振興署

and the Tennessee Valley Authority

及田納西河谷管理局

added projects building roads, bridges, and hydroelectric dams.

增加了鋪路、造橋及建水壩等公共工程

The WPA also funded art, writing, and theater programs.

公共事業振興署還資助 藝術、寫作及戲劇等計畫

These initiatives cut civilian unemployment in half.

這些舉措使百姓的失業率減半

And they did so alongside labor acts that abolished child labor,

同時還有勞工法廢除童工

granted unions the right to collective bargaining,

授予公會集體協商的權利

and set the first national minimum wage.

並定下第一個全國最低工資標準

Benefits were also created to help those unable to work.

還有福利制度以幫助無法工作的人

The Social Security Act established an old-age pension system

《社會保障法》創立養老金制度

in addition to unemployment insurance, disability benefits,

以及失業保險、身心障礙者給付

and welfare assistance.

及福利援助

But despite these sweeping policies,

儘管這些政策相當全面

the New Deal helped some groups more than others.

新政對不同族群的幫助還是不太一致

Black Americans were hit hardest by the economic downturn,

經濟不振對非裔美國人的衝擊最大

and the New Deal’s impact on Black communities varied widely.

但新政對各黑人社區的衝擊卻不一

In northern cities like Chicago,

在北部的城市如芝加哥

Black citizens received a large share of jobs, vocational training, and education,

非裔獲得大部分的工作 職訓及教育配額

with New Deal programs teaching more than one million Black Americans to read.

新政的計畫教了一百多萬黑人識字

Northern Black communities also received an influx of public housing,

北方的黑人社區也分到比較多的國宅

though it was heavily segregated.

即便種族隔離相當嚴格

In the South, results were less positive.

在南方，成果就沒這麼好了

Roosevelt relied heavily on the support of Southern Democrats,

小羅斯福極為仰賴南方民主黨員的支持

who welcomed economic development but fought to preserve white supremacy.

他們歡迎經濟發展 卻極力擁護白人至上主義

They ensured that new labor laws

他們確保新的勞工法

excluded domestic servants and agricultural workers,

會排除家庭幫傭及農工

occupations held by many Black Americans.

這些工作通常是黑人在做

These politicians and many others also undermined Eleanor Roosevelt’s attempts

這些政客和許多其他人 也破壞愛蓮娜·羅斯福促使丈夫

to push her husband toward supporting a federal anti-lynching law.

支持一項聯邦反私刑法的努力

As a result, the New Deal has often been called a “raw deal” for Black communities.

因此，新政通常被稱為 黑人的不平等待遇

And many modern inequities in housing, employment, and financial stability

許多現代的住宅、就業 及財務不平等現象

are partially due to New Deal programs prioritizing white Americans.

可部分歸究於新政優先考慮美國白人

In these ways and more, the New Deal didn’t fully live up to its promises.

因為如此，再加上其他原因 新政沒有完全兌現其承諾

Despite employing over 8 million Americans,

即使超過八百萬名美國人受雇

unemployment never went lower than 14%.

失業率卻從未低於 14%

And the US economy wouldn’t fully recover until the country’s mobilization

美國經濟並沒有完全恢復 直到全國動員起來

for World War II.

打第二次世界大戰

But this bold campaign of progressive policies

但是此項以進步政策為基的大膽運動

did empower unions to start their own revolution.

的確賦予公會開始自己的革命

In the coming decades, northern liberals, Black Americans,

接下來數十年，北方的自由派、黑人

and other working minorities,

及其他少數族裔勞工

united to fight discriminatory hiring.

聯合起來對抗招聘時的歧視

In the process, they reshaped the Democratic Party;

在過程中，他們重塑了民主黨

challenging its racist leadership,

挑戰其帶種族主義的領導

and laying the groundwork for an emerging civil rights coalition.

並為新興的民權運動聯盟奠基