Conservative or Liberal?
• “The government should help the poor and
the needy.”
• “I work hard and don’t think I should have
to pay a bunch of taxes to give to people
that are too lazy to work?”
Warm Up
Should the government have programs to help
poor people? Why or why not?
What is the difference between a conservative
and a liberal in the U.S.?
Which would be for the New Deal?
How might a liberal be critical of the New Deal?
Reactions to the New Deal
Public Reaction to the New Deal
• Public confidence had improved.
• But the country was still in an economic
slump.
• Still high unemployment.
• Some people wanted FDR to do more.
Critics of the New Deal
• Liberal critics claimed that the New Deal did not
go far enough & was going too slow.
• They felt government should do more
• Conservative critics claimed the New Deal went
too far.
• Government was becoming too intrusive and
veering towards socialism.
What FDR Says
• He is trying to save capitalism.
• He is not tied to an ideology—The New
Deal is pragmatic.
• Pragmatism is basing value on something
by the results (does it work).
The Biggest Critics
• Many conservative businessmen banded
together; They were known as The American
Liberty League.
• Felt that New Deal is taking country towards
socialism.
• Example—TVA was seen as govt. competing
with privately owned power companies.
•One of the most vocal Liberal critics was Huey Long
Huey Long
• U.S. Senator for Louisiana (“The
Kingfish”).
• He wanted to be President.
• Long felt he had a better plan:
“Share-our-wealth” (Take away
all income over $5 million and
guarantee everybody $2,500).
• “Every man a king, but no one
wears a crown.”
• 1935 Huey Long was
assassinated.
Dr. Francis Townsend
• Had a plan to aid the elderly that at the same
time would help stimulate the economy.
• Every person over 60 would retire and receive
$200 per month.
• They would have to spend the money each
month.
• Townsend claimed this would create jobs, help
the elderly, and stimulate the economy.
Father Charles Coughlin
• Catholic Priest who had a radio
show that had a huge following (40million listeners).
• At first he supported FDR.
• But turned against FDR when he felt
he wasn’t going far enough.
• Besides railing against FDR,
Coughlin also attacked bankers and
Jews.
• Wants wealth redistribution and
Govt. ownership of banks.
Union Party
• Followers of Townsend, Long and
Coughlin form the Union Party.
• William Lemke of S.D. is Pres. Candidate.
FDR wins a 2nd Term
• In 1936, FDR defeats
Republican Alf
Landon to win a
second term as
President.
• Union Party gets
900,000 votes.
FDR’s Problems with the Supreme
Court
• The U.S. Supreme Court began declaring
FDR’s New Deal Programs
unconstitutional.
• 1935 NRA declared unconstitutional.
• 1936, AAA declared unconstitutional
• STOP!!!
FDR’s Court Packing Plan
• Frustrated with the Supreme Court’s dismantling of his
New Deal programs, in 1937 FDR purposed a courtreform bill that would re-organize the Supreme Court.
• It called for adding additional judges for each judge over
70.
• This would allow FDR to appoint 6 more judges.
• These new judges would support FDR and tip the court
in his favor.
The People React to FDR
• The Press and Congress protest FDR on his
court-packing bill.
• Charge him with violating separation of powers.
• Court packing bill fails!
• But after the court-packing scheme, the court
starts to side with FDR.
• “Switch in time that saves nine”