The New Deal critics Flashcards
Who were the conservative New Deal critics and what were their criticisms?
Criticisms: un-American, unconstitutional; big government means high taxes and budget deficits; threat to currency, markets, private sector and individualism
Critics: The American Liberty League was an American political organization formed in 1934. Its membership consisted primarily of wealthy business elites and prominent political figures, who were for the most part conservatives opposed to the New Deal of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Example: Jouett Schouse (primary source)
Who were the populist New Deal critics and what were their criticisms?
Criticisms: devoted to the interests of big business and Wall Street; not committed to reduce unemployment, boost wages, attack poverty and inequality, or to help ordinary Americans instead of the very wealthy
Critics: Long (primary source), Coughlin and Townsend. All these men – Coughlin, Long, Townsend – appeal to the emotions. They utilize prejudice, fear, hope. Particularly do they hold out the vision of a better day not far distant. Used radio to speak to the public.
Who was Huey Long?
Democratic senator, he was a left-wing populist member of the Democratic Party and rose to national prominence during the Great Depression for his vocal criticism of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal. Most support of Long in: south, rocky mountain states and west.
He advocated his “Share Our Wealth” program, a plan for a radical redistribution of income through confiscatory taxation of the wealthy. The basic premise of the campaign is that there is enough for everyone if it is shared
Was assassinated in 1935 and was therefore no longer a threat for Roosevelt in the 1936 presidential election.
Who was Charles Coughlin?
Canadian-American Catholic priest and New Deal critic.
Coughlin was not a politician and most who shared his criticisms votes for FDR anyway. Therefore he did not become a threat to Roosevelt in the 1936 presidential election.
He was described like this in the primary text by Francis Brown (1935):
- “Wishes to organize a great lobby that will overawe Congress” (65)
- “Avoids specific proposals for social security” (66) –> “Instead, he has been content to talk about a living wage, about profits for the farmer, about government-protected labor unions. He insists that human rights be placed above property rights” (67)
- His “strength lies in his vagueness” –> because he can then play on hopes and prejudice of the public (67)
Who was Dr. Francis Townsend?
American physician, political activist in California and New Deal critic.
His plans were described in the primary text by Francis Brown (1935):
- Has created even more stir than the other two critics because of his old-age pension plan: “And this is because Dr. Townsend, with his old-age revolving pension plan, has appealed more directly to the popular desire for security” (69)
- “All over 60 who cease working for pay and who are not habitual criminals are to receive a pension of $200 a month. The pensions will be financed by a sales tax” (69).
Townshend’s plans were trashed as unworkable and FDR’s Social Security Act also made Townshend’s plans out of date. Therefore he did not become a threat to Roosevelt in the 1936 presidential election.
Who were the progressive New Deal critics and what were their criticisms?
Criticisms: unwilling to help the unemployed and poor, to pursue wealth redistribution or to control big business and finance; part of the problem, not of the solution
Critics: Socialist Party; CPUSA
Example: Stolberg and Vincent (primary source)
