National Recovery Administration facts for kids
The National Recovery Administration (NRA) was an important agency in the U.S. government during the 1930s. This was a time called the New Deal, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt created many programs to help the country recover from the Great Depression. The NRA was formed in 1933 by a law called the National Recovery Act. Its main goal was to help businesses and workers by setting fair rules for prices, wages, and working hours.
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What Was the NRA?
The NRA was one of the first government agencies that could control minimum wages, which is the lowest amount of money an employer can pay a worker. It also tried to stop businesses from competing unfairly. The agency was led by Hugh S. Johnson, a former general.
Why Was the NRA Created?
During the Great Depression, many people lost their jobs, and businesses struggled. President Roosevelt created the NRA to bring together businesses, workers, and the government. The idea was to create "codes of fair competition." These codes were like agreements that set rules for how businesses should operate. They aimed to prevent businesses from cutting wages too low or making products too cheaply, which hurt both workers and other businesses.
What Did the NRA Do?
The NRA encouraged businesses to join its program. If a business followed the NRA's rules, it could display a special symbol: a blue eagle. This symbol became very famous. People were encouraged to buy products only from businesses that showed the blue eagle, as it meant they were supporting fair practices.
The NRA tried to:
- Set minimum wages for workers.
- Limit working hours to create more jobs.
- Ban child labor.
- Set fair prices for goods and services.
- Allow workers to form unions and bargain for their rights.
The Blue Eagle Symbol
The blue eagle was a powerful symbol for the NRA. It showed that a business was part of the national effort to recover from the Depression. Many Americans proudly displayed the blue eagle in their shops and homes. It was a way to show support for President Roosevelt's New Deal programs and the idea of working together for a stronger economy.
Why Did the NRA End?
The NRA lasted for about two years. In 1935, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the National Recovery Act was unconstitutional. This meant the Court believed the law gave the government too much power over businesses, more than the U.S. Constitution allowed. After this ruling, the NRA had to close down. Even though it was short-lived, the NRA was a very important part of the New Deal and showed how the government tried to help the country during a difficult time.
Images for kids
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Director Hugh S. Johnson on the cover of Time Magazine in 1933
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NRA film 1934.JPG
The film industry supported the NRA.
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NRA tapestry displayed at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York
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The famous Blue Eagle symbol with the NRA code.
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Donald Richberg, an aid to FDR and co-author of the NIRA, sitting at his desk with a flag or tapestry in the Blue Eagle design hanging behind him.
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A commemorative stamp issued by the U.S. Post Office on August 15, 1933, celebrating the NRA.
