Opposition to the First New Deal (T2)

Question 1

Why did the right turn against Roosevelt?

Answer 1

Turned against him when it seemed that capitalism had been saved.

Question 2

What were the right unhappy about?

Answer 2

That the increases in taxes had fallen to heavily onto them.

Question 3

What did the right oppose?

Answer 3

• What they perceived as too much government involvement in the economy.
• Too much continued government involvement in the economy.

Question 4

What had happened to the Republican Party?

Answer 4

Were rebuilding and preparing for the 1936 election, but found it difficult to field a strong candidate.

Question 5

When were the Liberty Leaguers organised?

Answer 5

April 1934.

Question 6

Who was involved in the Liberty Leaguers?

Answer 6

Many conservative Democrats as well as Republicans.

Question 7

What was the aim of the Liberty Leaguers?

Answer 7

To promote private property and private enterprise unregulated by law.

Question 8

What was the impact of the Liberty Leaguers?

Answer 8

Attacked Roosevelt throughout the New Deal and formed the basis of right-wing opposition to him.

Question 9

How many members did the Liberty Leaguers have?

Answer 9

By July 1936, it had 125,000 members.

Question 10

What happened to the Liberty Leaguers?

Answer 10

Became less significant after Roosevelt’s victory in the 1936 elections.

Question 11

Why was Roosevelt concerned about opposition from the left?

Answer 11

Because left-wing groups might join together to form a third party and challenge him in the 1936 election.

Question 12

Who established End Poverty in California (EPIC)?

Answer 12

Upton Sinclair.

Question 13

What was the aim of EPIC?

Answer 13

A scheme whereby the unemployed would be put to work in state-run co-operatives.

Question 14

How were the unemployed paid in EPIC?

Answer 14

Paid in currency, which they could only spend in other co-operatives.

Question 15

What was the impact of EPIC?

Answer 15

Sinclair’s ideas gained credibility and proved useful recruits for more serious alternative movements.

Question 16

Who established ‘Share Our Wealth’?

Answer 16

Senator Huey Long from Louisiana , in February 1934.

Question 17

What did ‘Share Our Wealth’ advocate?

Answer 17

• That all private fortunes over $3 million should be confiscated.
• Every family should be given enough money to buy a house, a car and a radio.

Question 18

What did ‘Share Our Wealth’ advocate (2)?

Answer 18

• There should be old-age pensions, $2,000-$3,000 per year
• Free college education for all suitable candidates.

Question 19

How popular was ‘Share Our Wealth’?

Answer 19

Ideas were very popular, ‘Share our Wealth’ clubs grew to 27,431 in number, with 4.6 million members.

Question 20

What was Huey Long involved in the past?

Answer 20

Had ordered massive public works programmes:
- Over 3,000 miles of paved highways built between 1928-1933.
- New public buildings and an airport at New Orleans.

Question 21

How did Huey Long govern?

Answer 21

As a dictator and opponents were treated quite brutally by his bully boys.

Question 22

What did Long begin to do?

Answer 22

Began to talk of joining forces with other radicals to form a third party to oppose Roosevelt in the 1936 election.

Question 23

How popular was Huey Long?

Answer 23

Up to 4 million people might have voted for him in 1936.

Question 24

What happened to Huey Long?

Answer 24

He was shot dead in September 1935.

Question 25

Who led Old Age Revolving Pensions, Inc?

Answer 25

Francis Townsend, a retired doctor, advocated old-age pensions with a difference.

Question 26

What was the aim of Old Age Revolving Pensions, Inc?

Answer 26

• Everyone over 60 years who was not in paid employment should be given $200 a month.
• Only on the basis that every cent was spent and none saved.

Question 27

What was the idea behind this pension?

Answer 27

This would boost consumption and thereby production and pull the USA out of the Depression.

Question 28

How popular did Old Age Revolving Pensions become?

Answer 28

Townsend Clubs had 500,000 members and Congress was being lobbied to put the plan into operation.

Question 29

What was the issue with this idea?

Answer 29

Totally impractical.

Question 30

Why was the idea impractical?

Answer 30

• Payments would have amounted to 50% of national income.
• An army of bureaucrats would have been necessary to ensure money was spent.

Question 31

Who was Father Charles Coughlin?

Answer 31

A priest whose radio programme ‘The Golden Hour of the Little Flower’ was enormously influential.

Question 32

How much of an audience did Father Charles Coughlin gain?

Answer 32

30-40 million.

Question 33

How much did listeners contribute to Father Charles Coughlin?

Answer 33

$5 million per year to his parish in Detroit.

Question 34

What did Father Charles Coughlin establish in 1934?

Answer 34

The National Union for Social Justice.

Question 35

What was the aim of the National Union for Social Justice?

Answer 35

Aim of monetary reform and redistribution of wealth.

Question 36

What was the impact of Coughlin’s influence on Roosevelt?

Answer 36

Roosevelt was afraid, especially with a possible alliance with Huey Long as mooted.

Question 37

How did Coughlin lose support?

Answer 37

Became increasingly anti-Semetic, lost him a lot of support.

Question 38

What was the Thunder on the Left?

Answer 38

Name given to various political developments that are credited with moving Roosevelt further to the left in 1935 and 1936.

Question 39

What did the Thunder on the Left advocate?

Answer 39

• The state taking control of idle-factories to put the unemployed to work.
• Nationalisation of public utilities
• Postponement of farm mortgage foreclosures.

Question 40

What was the impact of the opposition?

Answer 40

In the 1934 mid-term congressional elections, Democrats made gains in both houses, the biggest Democratic majority to date.

Question 41

How did the opposition influence Roosevelt?

Answer 41

Roosevelt was preparing a Second New Deal influenced by the demands of radical politicians and big business measures.