US.50 Analyze the effects of and the controversies arising from New Deal economic policies, including charges of socialism and FDR’s “court packing” attempt.
Franklin Roosevelt easily won a second term in 1936, largely due to keeping his word on repealing Prohibition and taking action against the Great Depression. However, his New Deal was facing challenges. Some of F.D.R.'s critics charged him with turning America towards socialism. Other critics said his policies had not gone far enough to help the American people. The Supreme Court had even judged some New Deal programs to be unconstitutional. What did this mean for the future of F.D.R.'s domestic policy?
Q: What could F.D.R. do to silence his critics and gain the Supreme Court's support for his New Deal programs? |
Critics of the New Deal
Read the following descriptions of the opposition to Roosevelt's New Deal. Why did each oppose the New Deal?
Conservatives |
Conservative opponents of the New Deal said that F.D.R. had gone too far in regard to government intervention:
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Radicals |
Radicals thought F.D.R. had not done enough with the New Deal. These men thought that the government should be more involved in the lives of the American people. Read about the following opponents of F.D.R. and their plans. After you have read the descriptions, ask yourself if their plans sound familiar at all. How do you think F.D.R. responded to their proposals?
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Senator Huey LongHuey Long said New Deal relief measures weren't nearly enough and in 1934 advocated a "share the wealth" plan (i.e., a guaranteed annual income of at least $5,000 for every American, financed by confiscating wealth of people who made over $5 million per year). Long was to run for president, but was killed by an assassin's bullet in 1935.
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Father CoughlinFather Charles Coughlin was an outspoken radio priest from Detroit.
He claimed there was an international banking conspiracy and Jews were responsible. He advocated nationalization (gov't control) of banking and currency and national resources and demanded a “living wage.” |
Dr. Francis TownsendTownsend had a plan for the federal government to pay $200 per month to unemployed people over 60.
The program would be financed by a 2% national sales tax and each pensioner would be required to spend the money in 30 days. |
F.D.R.'s Response
F.D.R. silenced his critics through moderate legislation that basically offered some form of his critic's proposals and raising revenue through taxation on the wealthy to alleviate concerns on increasing the national debt.
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F.D.R. and "Court Packing"
In 1935, F.D.R. was dealing with a conservative-majority Supreme Court (meaning at least 5 of the 9 justices would likely vote against his New Deal programs). They had deemed the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) and the National Recovery Act (NRA) unconstitutional. F.D.R. was very concerned about the future of his New Deal Programs as a result. He then came up with a plan to install more Supreme Court justices and put pressure on the Supreme Court to support the New Deal. View the short videos below to learn about F.D.R.'s plan for the Supreme Court. Answer the questions on your worksheet.
Cartoon Analysis
Using what you have learned from the lesson, analyze the political cartoons below.