The Second New Deal and Opposition to the New Deal (8) Flashcards
What the aim of the Second New Deal?
To reform the American economy.
What did the Social Security Act establish a system of?
Welfare and pensions
What did the other laws lay down? (2)
- A minimum wage of 25 cents an hour and a maximum working week of 44 hours in certain industries.
- Boosted trade union movement, by recognizing the rights of workers to join unions and to take strike action
Which recovery agency did the Second New Deal introduce?
Works Progress Administration (WPA)
What did the WPA do?
It provided work for 8 million people. It set up construction and conservation projects and gave work to unemployed writers, artists, etc in arts and cultural projects.
For example, one project recorded interviews with 2000 ex-___. It is one of the most valuable historical records about ___ in America.
slaves
Slavery
What proof is there that the New Deal measures had wide support?
Roosevelt was re-elected by a huge majority of voters in 1936.
Who opposed the New Deal Policies? (5)
- Republican politicians
- Conservatives
- Business leaders
- Wealthy Americans
- The Supreme Court
Why did Republican Politicians oppose the New Deal?
Believed Roosevelt was acting like a dictator and taking over the powers of individual states. They said that the New Deal undermined self-reliance and ‘rugged-individualism’ by making people reliant on the government for welfare grants.
Many people felt that his policies were too ______ and that he was taking the country towards ____.
revolutionary
socialism
Why did business leaders oppose the New Deal? (3)
- Accused government of interfering in areas beyond its control by setting minimum wages, maximum working hours and recognized trade unions.
- Resented having to pay social security contributions for their employees
- Resented schemes like the TVA which they felt provided unfair competition with private enterprise
Why did wealthy Americans oppose the New Deal?
They resented having to pay higher taxes to pay for the New Deal. They criticized Roosevelt, who himself came from a wealthy background for ignoring the concerns of the rich. they said he was a traitor to his class.
Why did the Supreme Court oppose the New Deal?
They declared many New Deal acts to be unconstitutional. It said the AAA threated the powers of individual states and that the NRA interfered in business practice.
What constitutional crisis occurred?
Roosevelt threated to replace many of the older more conservative judges, with people who were sympathetic to his policies.
Why did Roosevelt not go through with replacing the old judges?
His own supporters felt that the government should not threaten the independence of the Court.
