Opposition to the New Deal

Opposition ‘ New Deal’ unique in American history Of course opposition was bound to exist Opposition took three forms The ‘New Deal’ isn’t doing enough! The ‘New Deal’ is doing too much! Opposition from the Supreme Court

‘ New Deal’ unique in American history

Of course opposition was bound to exist

Opposition took three forms

The ‘New Deal’ isn’t doing enough!

The ‘New Deal’ is doing too much!

Opposition from the Supreme Court

The New Deal isn’t doing enough! Many Americans still desperately poor Worst hit were blacks & poor farmers Key figure: Huey Long (see slide) Key figure: Dr. Francis Townsend Campaigned for $200/month pensions for 60 y.o.s, providing they spent it in same month, thus stimulating the economy Key figure: Father Coughlin Catholic priest Used weekly radio address to attack FDR Set up National Union of Social Justice, had large membership Movement faded in early ’40s after Vatican instructed him to stop his attacks

Many Americans still desperately poor

Worst hit were blacks & poor farmers

Key figure: Huey Long (see slide)

Key figure: Dr. Francis Townsend

Campaigned for $200/month pensions for 60 y.o.s, providing they spent it in same month, thus stimulating the economy

Key figure: Father Coughlin

Catholic priest

Used weekly radio address to attack FDR

Set up National Union of Social Justice, had large membership

Movement faded in early ’40s after Vatican instructed him to stop his attacks

The New Deal is doing too much! Business community & Republicans ND complicated w/ too many codes & regs Gov’t shouldn’t support unions & wages, that is the job of the market (supply & demand) Gov’t schemes like TVA unfair competition since private companies aren’t funded by gov’t ND like Stalin’s 5-Year Plans, not free-market FDR behaving like a dictator Wealthy were wealthy because they worked hard for it. High taxes on wealthy discouraged people from working hard to achieve wealth & gave money to people who did little for it

Business community & Republicans

ND complicated w/ too many codes & regs

Gov’t shouldn’t support unions & wages, that is the job of the market (supply & demand)

Gov’t schemes like TVA unfair competition since private companies aren’t funded by gov’t

ND like Stalin’s 5-Year Plans, not free-market

FDR behaving like a dictator

Wealthy were wealthy because they worked hard for it. High taxes on wealthy discouraged people from working hard to achieve wealth & gave money to people who did little for it

The New Deal is doing too much! FDR upset w/ tactics of Republicans Tried to smear him & ND Democrats w/ dirt Said FDR paralyzed from STD, not polio Employers put memos in employee pay checks saying ND would never happen FDR turned on enemies bitterly 1936 election: Massive win for FDR, more than in 1932 Highest margin of victory ever achieved ‘ Everyone is against the New Deal except the voters’ FDR

FDR upset w/ tactics of Republicans

Tried to smear him & ND Democrats w/ dirt

Said FDR paralyzed from STD, not polio

Employers put memos in employee pay checks saying ND would never happen

FDR turned on enemies bitterly

1936 election:

Massive win for FDR, more than in 1932

Highest margin of victory ever achieved

‘ Everyone is against the New Deal except the voters’

FDR

Opposition from the Supreme Court Supreme Court most powerful opponent Dominated by anti-ND Republicans Could overturn ND laws as unconstitutional MAY 1935: Schechter Poultry Corp. found guilty of violating NRA regs Sold diseased chickens for people to eat Filed false sales claims to inflate value Exploited workers Threatened gov’t inspectors SC ruled in favor of Schechter on appeal Fed gov’t had no right to prosecute company NRA was unconstitutional NRA took too much power away from states

Supreme Court most powerful opponent

Dominated by anti-ND Republicans

Could overturn ND laws as unconstitutional

MAY 1935: Schechter Poultry Corp. found guilty of violating NRA regs

Sold diseased chickens for people to eat

Filed false sales claims to inflate value

Exploited workers

Threatened gov’t inspectors

SC ruled in favor of Schechter on appeal

Fed gov’t had no right to prosecute company

NRA was unconstitutional

NRA took too much power away from states

‘Court Packing Scheme’ FDR furious SC denied laws citizens wanted FDR to use FDR asked Congress to expand SC from 9 justices to 15, the new six being pro-ND FDR misjudged mood of Americans Citizens alarmed at FDR’s grab for power Feared FDR attacking American system of gov’t FDR had to back down ‘ A switch in time saves nine’ SC shaken by FDR’s attempt Less obstructionist from Fall ’35 onward Most Second New Deal measures approved by SC in 1937

FDR furious

SC denied laws citizens wanted FDR to use

FDR asked Congress to expand SC from 9 justices to 15, the new six being pro-ND

FDR misjudged mood of Americans

Citizens alarmed at FDR’s grab for power

Feared FDR attacking American system of gov’t

FDR had to back down

‘ A switch in time saves nine’

SC shaken by FDR’s attempt

Less obstructionist from Fall ’35 onward

Most Second New Deal measures approved by SC in 1937

The case of Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black

Focus Task: What were the motives of the opponents of the New Deal? The thought bubbles below show some of the reasons why people opposed the New Deal. Use your notes to find examples of individuals who held each belief. Try to find two more reasons why people opposed the New Deal. It won’t work. It’ll harm me. It’ll harm the USA.

The thought bubbles below show some of the reasons why people opposed the New Deal. Use your notes to find examples of individuals who held each belief. Try to find two more reasons why people opposed the New Deal.

Fin

PSDs on Opposition to New Deal The New Deal is nothing more or less than an effort to take away from the thrifty what the thrifty and their ancestors have accumulated, or may accumulate, and give it to others who have not earned it and never will earn it, and thus indirectly to destroy the incentive for all future accumulation. Such a purpose is in defiance of all the ideas upon which our civilization has been founded. A Republican opponent of the New Deal speaking in 1935 For twelve years this nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing government. The nation looked to government but government looked away. Nine crazy years at the stock market and three long years in the bread-lines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that government is best which is most indifferent … We know now that government organized by money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob. Never before in all our history have these forces been united against one candidate – me – as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate of me – and I welcome their hatred. A speech by FDR in the 1936 presidential election campaign

The New Deal is nothing more or less than an effort to take away from the thrifty what the thrifty and their ancestors have accumulated, or may accumulate, and give it to others who have not earned it and never will earn it, and thus indirectly to destroy the incentive for all future accumulation. Such a purpose is in defiance of all the ideas upon which our civilization has been founded.

A Republican opponent of the New Deal speaking in 1935

For twelve years this nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing government. The nation looked to government but government looked away. Nine crazy years at the stock market and three long years in the bread-lines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that government is best which is most indifferent … We know now that government organized by money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob. Never before in all our history have these forces been united against one candidate – me – as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate of me – and I welcome their hatred.

A speech by FDR in the 1936 presidential election campaign

Huey Long A remarkable character 1928: Governor of Louisiana 1932: Senator of Louisiana Gained power through legal & illegal means (intimidation & bribery) Used power to help the poor Relentlessly taxed big businesses in state Used $$$ to build roads, schools, hospitals Employed blacks equally w/ whites Clashed w/ KKK At first supported New Deal, later said ND too complicated & not doing enough ‘ Share the Wealth’ scheme, ‘Every man a king!’ Personal fortunes max @ 3 million Yearly income max @ 1 million Gov’t taxes shared w/ all Americans Pensions for all over 60 y.o. Free washing machines & radios for everyone Aggressive & forceful, w/ many friends & enemies FDR considered him one of two most dangerous men in America until Long was assassinated in 1935 (how convenient)

A remarkable character

1928: Governor of Louisiana

1932: Senator of Louisiana

Gained power through legal & illegal means (intimidation & bribery)

Used power to help the poor

Relentlessly taxed big businesses in state

Used $$$ to build roads, schools, hospitals

Employed blacks equally w/ whites

Clashed w/ KKK

At first supported New Deal, later said ND too complicated & not doing enough

‘ Share the Wealth’ scheme, ‘Every man a king!’

Personal fortunes max @ 3 million

Yearly income max @ 1 million

Gov’t taxes shared w/ all Americans

Pensions for all over 60 y.o.

Free washing machines & radios for everyone

Aggressive & forceful, w/ many friends & enemies

FDR considered him one of two most dangerous men in America until Long was assassinated in 1935 (how convenient)