Impacts of New deal and Opposition Flashcards
New Deal achievements
America avoided swing to extremism e.g. fascism in Germany and Communism in The Soviet Union
millions of jobs created through alphabet agencies with unemployment reducing from 12.8 million in 1933 to 9.5 million in 1939.
Income of farmers doubled (1932-1939)
US banking system stabilized and confidence in markets restored.
Workers’ rights greatly improved and a welfare state was provided (pensions for old widows unemployed sick etc)
Shortcomings of the New Deal
Pt1
Did nothing against discrimination against Black people, who continued to get worse pay and jobs.
Alphabet agencies were mainly short-term options and did little to solve the underlying economic issues in America.
Social welfare encouraged people to live off the state, going against rugged individualism.
Shortcomings of the New Deal pt 2
Relief impacts were disproportionate, with different states receiving different levels of help and the housing crisis still remaining.
Went over budget
Unemployment, while improved was still a major issu.
Social security paid from people wages rather than taxes therefore gap between poor and wealthy furthered.
Opposition to New Deal (Supreme court)
Most judges had been chosen by republican presidents beforehand and went against FDR.
Court could therefore stop ND laws from being passed but only if an appeal was made against a law.
FDR tried to make a law where judges could not be over the age of 70 in order to appoint new judges but was unsuccessful.
As time passed FDR managed to appoint new judges and court adapted to times.
Opposition to New Deal (Supreme Court actions)
Sick Chicken Case where Schechter Poultry Company was prosecuted by the government under NRA for animal cruelty. SC ruled that government had no control over trade thus ending NRA.
The Supreme Court decommissioned AAA in 1936, where a cotton company made an appeal relating to taxation.
11 ND laws found unconstitutional
Opposition to New Deal (Republicans)
Claimed FDR changed role of government and compared him to a dictator.
ND such as the Social Security Act, went against rugged individualism.
Opted for Laissez faire attitude which completely opposed ND
In 1938 midterm elections won a lot of seats allowing them to work with conservative democrats to cut funding + stop laws.
Opposition to New Deal (Business Interests)
Against high taxation + government interference in companies + support of trade unions.
Led to Liberty League formation.
LL spread anti- ND message through panfelts radio speeches etc.
Little success, as with $1 million spent, only 150,000 members, with republicans denouncing them.
Opposition to New Deal (Huey Long’s Share our wealth)
Criticised FDR for not sharing country’s wealth out equally.
Proposed ‘share our wealth programme’ where all personal income > $ 1.8 million would be taken and used to give every citizen a salary of $2500.
Looked to provide every american with a housee car college etc.
Did not work as not enough rich people for scheme to go ahead, however incredibly poular and would’ve ran for president.
Assasinated in 1935.
Opposition to New deal (Social justice campaign
Father Coughlin was a priest whose sermons attracted 30 million radio listeners.
Argued that ND did not do enough for poor people + power needed to be takne from wall street etc
Set up National Union for Social Justice in 1934, demanding bank reform nationalisation of US economy.
Worked with Francis Townsend and Gerald Smith (Long’s successor) in 1936 election but failed.
2nd ND introduced their ideas.
Opposition to New deal (Francis Townsend)
Looked to help old people gain a higher pension.
Was incredibly popular until people realised sheer taxation needed fro such a scheme.
