Left-Wing opposition

Question 1

Types of opposition

Answer 1

• Huey Long - ‘Share Our Wealth’
• Francis Townsend - ‘Old Age Revolving Pensions’
• Upton Sinclair - ‘End Poverty in California

Question 2

Why did Huey Long oppose the New Deal?

Answer 2

• Felt it did not go far enough
• Wanted to introduce: A minimum annual income of $2500, free college education, the confiscation of all private fortunes over $3million

Question 3

Why did Francis Townsend oppose the New Deal?

Answer 3

• Felt it did not go far enough
• Townsend suggested that every unemployed person over 60 should be given a pension of $200 a month to be spend by the end of the month:
• would encourage people to retire freeing up jobs
• Extra spending money would simulate the economy

Question 4

Why did Upton Sinclair oppose the New Deal?

Answer 4

• Felt it did not go far enough
• Proposed putting workers in state-run cooperatives, paying them in a currency that they could only spend in other cooperatives

Question 5

How far did Huey Long enjoy support?

Answer 5

DID:

• By 1935, there were 27,000 Share Our Wealth Clubs, with 4.6 million members
• A poll in 1935 suggestes that 12% of people would vote for him in the 1936 Presidential election - enough to deny FDR a majority

DIDN’T:
- Many people pointed out that his schemes were financially impossible

Question 6

How far did Townsend enjoy support?

Answer 6

DID:

• In 1935, 20 million people signed a petition in support of his Townsend
• Townsend Clubs had 500,000 members by 1936
• The average pension was only $8-$30 per month, so $200 per month appealed to many
• In 1935, 20 million people signed a petition in support of his scheme

Question 7

How far did Sinclair enjoy support?

Answer 7

DID:
- Sinclair won the nomination to the Democratic candidate for the 1934 election to be the Governor of California

DIDN’T:
- Was defeated by the Republican candidate in the 1934 election to be the Governor of California