Fifth Party System [1933–1972] I Flashcards
Review - Evolution of the Two-Party System Timeline
Political scientists and historians have divided the development of America’s two-party system into roughly six eras: (1) First Party System [1789–1824] between the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party; (2) Second Party System [1828–1854] between the Whig Party and Democratic Party; (3) Third Party System [1854–1890s] between the anti-slavery/discrimination Republican Party and pro-slavery/discrimination Democrats; (4) Fourth Party System [1896–1932] Republican and Democrats with Progressive Era and limited government; (5) Fifth Party System [1933–1972] Domination of New Deal Democrats; and (6) Sixth Party System [1972-Present] Liberal-Democrat and Conservative-Republican realignment.
Evolution of the Two-Party System Timeline: Fifth Party System (1933-1972)
The Fifth Party System was a period of American political history from 1932 to 1972, during which America’s two major parties, the Republican and Democratic parties, were divided into the “New Deal Coalition” and the “Conservative Coalition”, opposing ideological factions of US Congress consisting of members of both parties. For the first time in American history, intra-party ideological groups were more important than the actual parties, and the Civil Rights movement and Cold War in the 1960s led to an ideological realignment which led to the birth of the Sixth Party System, under which the Republicans ascended to power during a conservative surge in American politics, ending the zenith of American liberalism which began with the New Deal and ended with the Great Society and led to a conservative backlash which led to Republican dominance of US politics from 1968 to 1992.
Review - Timeline: The Great Depression, 1929-1932
1929: Hoover inaugurated president; Stock market crashes; Great Depression begins. 1930: Dust Bowl results from severe drought conditions and poor farming practices. 1931: Scottsboro Boys trial begins in Alabama. 1932: Hoover forms ‘Reconstruction Finance Corporation’; Bonus Army riot breaks out in Washington; Roosevelt elected president.
Timeline: Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1932-1941
1932: Franklin Roosevelt elected president. 1933: First New Deal legislation passes. 1934: ‘Southern Tenant Farmer Union’ organizes. 1935: Supreme Court strikes down key elements of the New Deal; Second New Deal begins. 1936: Roosevelt re-elected in a landslide. 1938: U.S. encounters recession when government spending is curtailed; ‘Fair Labor Standards Act’ passes.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (D)
Franklin D. Roosevelt was in his second term as governor of New York when he was elected as the nation’s 32nd president in 1932. With the country mired in the depths of the Great Depression, Roosevelt immediately acted to restore public confidence, proclaiming a bank holiday and speaking directly to the public in a series of radio broadcasts or “fireside chats.” His ambitious slate of New Deal programs and reforms redefined the role of the federal government in the lives of Americans. Reelected by comfortable margins in 1936, 1940, and 1944, FDR led the United States from isolationism to victory over Nazi Germany and its allies in World War II. He spearheaded the successful wartime alliance between Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States and helped lay the groundwork for the post-war peace organization that would become the United Nations. The only American president in history to be elected four times, Roosevelt died in office in April 1945.
The Rise of Franklin Roosevelt (A)
Franklin Roosevelt was a wealthy, well-educated, and popular politician whose history of polio made him a more sympathetic figure to the public. He did not share any specifics of his plan to bring the country out of the Great Depression, but his attitude of optimism and possibility contrasted strongly with Hoover’s defeated misery. The 1932 election was never really in question and Roosevelt won in a landslide. During the four-month interregnum, however, Americans continued to endure President Hoover’s failed policies, which led the winter of 1932–1933 to be the worst of the Depression, with unemployment rising to record levels.
The Rise of Franklin Roosevelt (B)
When Roosevelt took office in March 1933, he infused the country with a sense of optimism. He still did not have a formal plan but rather invited the American people to join him in the spirit of experimentation. Roosevelt did bring certain beliefs to office: The belief in an active government that would take direct action on federal relief, public works, social services, and direct aid to farmers. But as much as his policies, Roosevelt’s own personality and engaging manner helped the country feel that they were going to get back on track.
The First New Deal
After assuming the presidency, Roosevelt lost no time in taking bold steps to fight back against the poverty and unemployment plaguing the country. He immediately created a bank holiday and used the time to bring before Congress legislation known as the ‘Emergency Banking Act’, which allowed federal agencies to examine all banks before they reopened, thus restoring consumer confidence. He then went on, in his historic first hundred days, to sign numerous other significant pieces of legislation that were geared towards creating jobs, shoring up industry and agriculture, and providing relief to individuals through both refinancing options and direct handouts. Not all of his programs were effective, and many generated significant criticism. Overall, however, these programs helped to stabilize the economy, restore confidence, and change the pessimistic mindset that had overrun the country.
F.D. Roosevelt - Recall Roosevelt’s early years as a young man from a wealthy family.
F.D. Roosevelt was born in 1882 as an only child to parents who both came from wealthy New York families. In fact, President Theodore Roosevelt was his fifth cousin. Growing up, FDR lived a very privileged life. He traveled to Europe regularly, attended prestigious schools like Harvard College and Columbia Law, and learned to play polo and tennis. In 1905, he married another fifth cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt, who would later become a well-respected advocate for women, African Americans, and human rights. Together the couple had six children.
F.D. Roosevelt - Identify his work in New York up until his election as governor
In the early 1900s, FDR made a name for himself by opposing the corrupt politicians that controlled New York City and was soon elected to the New York State Senate. Shortly thereafter, in 1913, President Wilson appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy. During this time, he founded the Navy Reserve, helped to lead the Navy during World War I, and demobilized the fleet following the war. Based on his record and reputation, the Democratic Party chose him to be their vice-presidential candidate in 1920. However, President Harding soundly defeated his ticket. In 1928, FDR was elected Governor of New York, completing a monumental political comeback from Polio.
F.D. Roosevelt - Explain his contracting polio and his comeback.
One of the most life-changing events in the future president’s life occurred in 1921 when he contracted polio, a devastating virus that caused FDR to become completely paralyzed from the waist down. Dejected and concerned about the future of his political career, FDR attempted numerous therapies over many years. In time, he taught himself how to walk using braces and a cane and how to downplay the severity of his condition with the press. This triumph over polio energized Roosevelt, both in his political ambitions and his desire to fight for the most vulnerable people. In 1928, FDR was elected Governor of New York, completing a monumental political comeback.
F.D. Roosevelt - Detail his landslide election to the presidency in 1932.
By 1932, FDR had decided to run for president. He ran an energetic and optimistic campaign that positioned himself as the change candidate and pledged to offer Americans direct relief. He faced Herbert Hoover, who ran a depressing campaign and was met with great hostility on the campaign trail. With some very public failures and nearly a quarter of Americans unemployed, Hoover didn’t stand a chance. FDR won the election with 57.4% of the vote, and the Democrats gained control of both houses of Congress. So significant was this victory that historians consider it a realigning election that set the stage for 20 years of Democratic presidential power.
F.D. Roosevelt - Recall details of his first 100 days of his New Deal (1933-1935).
President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal program was an attempt to relieve financially desperate Americans and end the Great Depression. Roosevelt’s first 100 days in office marked the passage of 15 pieces of New Deal legislation. Some of the successful legislation included the ‘Emergency Banking Act’, the ‘Economy Act’, the ‘Federal Emergency Relief Act’, the’ Unemployment Relief Act’, and the ‘Tennessee Valley Authority Act’.
F.D. Roosevelt - Reforming the financial sector.
Roosevelt’s first several pieces of New Deal legislation focused primarily on preventing American banks from collapsing. He passed the ‘Emergency Banking Act’ (1933), which provided federal loans to save private banks, as well as the ‘Economy Act’ (1933), which called for a balanced budget. Roosevelt’s first several pieces of New Deal legislation focused primarily on preventing American banks from collapsing.
F.D. Roosevelt - Method for saving the economy - The ‘Agricultural Adjustment Act’ and the ‘National Industrial Recovery Act’.
Roosevelt’s theory in rebuilding the economy rested on the notion of limited production. He wanted farmers, laborers, and businessmen to begin producing less in the hope that supply and demand would restore the market. Therefore, much of his legislation during the first 100 days focused on curbing production. The ‘National Industrial Recovery Act’ was centerpiece of this strategy.
F.D. Roosevelt - Method for saving the economy - ‘National Industrial Recovery Act’ - Results.
Under the ‘National Industrial Recovery Act’, the ‘National Recovery Administration’ (NRA) encouraged an increase in labor wages and a decrease in workweek hours, but was ineffective because of unwilling employers. It was disbanded in 1935 after the Supreme Court ruled that the implementation of federal industrial codes was an unconstitutional use of the powers of the federal government. Also under the “NIRA”, was the ‘Agricultural Adjustment Act’, which also struggled because it failed to account for sharecroppers, who were individuals paid to work on a farmer’s land, causing them to become unemployed.
F.D. Roosevelt - Saving the people - ‘Federal Emergency Relief Act’.
Roosevelt understood the New Deal had to establish programs that provided tangible relief for Americans. The legislation with the largest immediate impact was the ‘Federal Emergency Relief Act’ (1933), which dispensed millions of federal dollars to poor Americans. The act also created the ‘Civil Works Administration’, which employed individuals to work on government-related projects.
F.D. Roosevelt - Saving the people - ‘Unemployment Relief Act’.
Similar to the ‘Federal Emergency Relief Act’ (1933), the ‘Unemployment Relief Act’ created the ‘Civilian Conservation Corps’ (1933), which provided jobs to men who were willing to complete environmental tasks. Roosevelt also passed the ‘Home Owners Act’ (1933), which refinanced mortgages to affordable rates and prevented Americans from losing their homes.
F.D. Roosevelt - Saving the people - ‘Public Works Administration’.
The ‘Public Works Administration’, which was created under the ‘National Industrial Recovery Act’ (1933), authorized federal funding for national infrastructure repair and construction.
F.D. Roosevelt - Saving the people - ‘Tennessee Valley Authority Act’ (TVA).
The ‘Tennessee Valley Authority Act’ (TVA) (1933) allowed the federal government to develop the Tennessee Valley region into an area of prosperity. The government was able to do this by building hydroelectric dams, improving river transportation, and developing industry. Not only did this program offer employment to Americans, but it generated low cost utilities and helped to curb land erosion.
F.D. Roosevelt - Saving the people - Tennessee Valley Authority Act vs. Hoover Dam project.
The success of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act (TVA) (1933) led to additional improvements in the Western United States. Important developments, such as the Hoover Dam and Grand Coulee Dam, provided low-cost utilities and economic growth. However, the TVA program had been much more successful in bringing prosperity to all Americans, whereas western development established more of a hierarchy, with private enterprise at the top and poor Americans at the bottom.
F.D. Roosevelt - Opposition to the New Deal
Roosevelt maintained wide support for his New Deal programs, yet there were some dissenting individuals and groups. Senator Huey Long, Reverend Charles Coughlin, and Francis Townsend all opposed the New Deal (their ideas were not popular among the average American), and labor unions questioned Roosevelt’s leadership in implementing the program. Various ethnic groups also struggled to achieve equality through the New Deal program, in addition to losing their jobs as sharecroppers via the Agricultural Adjustment Act. Nevertheless, the first New Deal helped reignite the American spirit and offered temporary solutions to the Great Depression.
F.D. Roosevelt - Opposition to the New Deal - Name which programs failed and which were thrown out by the Supreme Court.
We have seen that the Supreme Court, under the leadership of Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, opposed the ‘National Recovery Administration’ as an unconstitutional violation of the federal powers. The Court also nullified certain provisions in the ‘Agricultural Adjustment Act’ as violations of the ‘Commerce Clause’, and they weren’t the only group who opposed Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation.
F.D. Roosevelt - Opposition to the New Deal - Senator Huey Long.
Senator Huey Long believed that the Depression could not be ended through the expansion of the federal government, but by redistributing wealth from the top.
