The New Deal
Comes
Under Attack
Copyright, 1996 © Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc.
Conservative (The Right) Attacks
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Liberty League: New Deal Programs
endangering Constitution and creating radical,
anti-capitalist dictatorship
“Rugged Individualism” vs. Gov’t Supports
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Taxation, Business Regulation, Dependency
FDR – “traitor to his class”
Fascist Revolt (1934) – Attempt Military Coup
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Strong Nationalistic Central State to oversee
Corporate Production, Civil Liberties?, Militaristic?
Critics from the “Left”
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Upton Sinclair (The Jungle) – Higher
income tax, inheritance tax, & consumer
cooperatives
Francis Townsend – Over 60 = $200
monthly all must be spent in 30 days from
2% tax on transactions (became SSA)
Father Coughlin – Catholic sermons from
“Roosevelt or ruin” to Nationalizing banks,
public utilities, & natural resources
Critics from the Left (Cont.)
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Huey Long – “Share the Wealth”
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Louisiana Senator – demand nationalizing banks
& seize wealthy accounts & property
“Every man a King” – every family guaranteed
$5,000 yearly, house, car, radio
Greatest threat to FDR (assassinated 1935)
Communist & Socialist Parties
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History is study of class struggles
Capitalism will destroy itself – evolution of
proletariat revolution and classless society
Individualism vs. Moral Duty & Righteousness
Stormy Weather
FDR and the Supreme Court
FDR’s New Deal transformed the American political
system, but after being reelected in 1936 the president
believed his programs could reach millions more.
Roosevelt wanted greater executive power to expand
the scope of federal programs, but critics to the right
claimed FDR was assuming the role of dictator disregarding the Constitution. The margin of victory in
the November election, which FDR carried 61% of the
popular vote and 623 out of the possible 632 electoral
votes, over Alf Landon emboldened FDR to challenge
his critics by proposing to transform the judicial branch
which in 1935 and 1936 had struck down several key
New Deal Programs as un-Constitutional.
Thesis: Despite being attacked by both
conservative and radical forces as well
as many of his New Deal programs
being declared unconstitutional by the
US Supreme Court, FDR believed his
wide margin of victory in the 1936
election was a mandate to expand his
powers in dealing with the continued
economic crisis.
Critics from the Right? Left?
1936 Election
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Republicans–Landon & Knox (Progressives)
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“America is in peril. We invite all Americans,
regardless of party, to join us in defense of
American institutions.”
Supported many New Deal Programs – debated
Constitutionality (Executive Power)
FDR & Garner – Democrats (Populists)
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“To some generations much is given. Of other
generations much is expected. This generation
has a rendezvous with destiny.”
Critics on Left allowed for expansion of Liberal
gov’t programs (Relief, Recovery, Reform)
Researching: Quotes/Primary Sources
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FDR stated in his 1936 campaign for
reelection, “This generation of
Americans has a rendezvous with
destiny…..We are fighting to save a
great and precious form of
government for ourselves and the
world” (Link 265).
In several cities where FDR
campaigned he spoke out against the
vast accumulation of industrial wealth.
Roosevelt’s strong attacks against
‘industrial dictatorships’ and ‘economic
royalists’ not only justified the
increased powers of the federal
government to regulate the economy
but also to grant greater powers to the
American worker (Link 265).
Political Shift: Labor/African-Americans
Supreme Court Challenges New Deal
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1920’s Court v.
FDR’s agenda
FDR’s Mandate
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Three Branches /
Separation of Powers
New Deal Acts
declared
Unconstitutional
Conservative 1920’s
Court too old to cope
with load
America in crisis and
must be progressive
FDR’s Supreme Court Packing Plan

FDR reorganization of judicial branch
 Judges retire at 70 – or President may
appoint additional to sit with elder
 1936 - 6 Judges at 70+ (15 Justices)
 “Separation of Powers”?
Reaction to Packing Plan
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FDR assumed he
could control
majorities within
Congress
Packing Plan never
made it to vote
FDR no longer
dominated
Congress
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1936-1940 FDR
appointed 7 judges
(retirement &
death)
‘It’s fun to stay at the Y _ _ _’
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#1. What did
Huey Long
guarantee every
American family
in his “Share the
Wealth”
program?
#2
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What were the
provisions of the
Townsend Plan?
#3
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What two long term developments
characterize the political realignments
from the 1936 election? (Hint: From
“Election of 1936” Questions)
“I want my MTV!”
#4 Who was the Republican
candidate for President in the 1936
Election?
#5
 The
Republican Platform in 1936
promised………..
#6 Why did the Republican
candidate’s position on the New
Deal make it difficult for him to get
elected in 1936?
#7 Did America’s newspapers
play a significant role in the
1936 election? Explain
Brain Tickler: Complex Sentences
FDR was reelected in 1936.
 The Democratic Party gained larger
majorities in Congress.
 Alf Landon (Republican candidate for
President) supported many of the
New Deal Programs.
 FDR believed he was given a
mandate by American voters to
extend his New Deal programs.

Explain why FDR’s New Deal was
Revolutionary.
Explain Positive & Negative effects
Schecter Poultry Corp. v. US (1935)
NIRA unconstitutional
 gave legislative powers to executive
branch
 regulated intrastate commerce
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Wagner Act created – greater support
unions
– National Labor Relations Board
– Fair Labor Standards Act
United States v. Butler
(1936)
 Agricultural Adjustment Act
unconstitutional
 processing tax means of regulating
agriculture
 New AAA (1938)
 surplus, parity, profit
Objectives:
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Conservative: What did FDR really mean when
he said he wanted the people to grant him
broad executive power?
Liberal: The people of the U.S. have given FDR
a mandate to push forward with the New Deal?
Radical: We need a stronger leader who
supports the working class and taxing the elites
in order to distribute the wealth evenly?
1936 Elections - FDR v. Landon
Yes, you guessed it - note time!
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1934 Midterm elections - New Deal
Democrats
1936 Presidential and Congressional
elections
Checks and Balances
Executive, Legislative, Judicial
Congressional Elections
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1934 Midterm:
 House - 308 (D) 104 (R)
 Senate 69 (D)
27 (R)
FDR’s “mandate” to carry on New Deal
1936: House – 330 (D) – 90 (R)
Senate 76 (D) – 16 (R)
Second term emboldened FDR, millions more
Americans needed to be reached