THE NEW DEAL Court Packing Plan, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Federal Government Expansion

Impact of the New Deal on Labor Biggest growth in Union membership took place during the New Deal FDR wanted wages to rise to fight the depression

Reactions to the New Deal Huey Long Liberty League: FDR was a “traitor to his class.” Ppl worried FDR was becoming a dictator. Louisiana Governor Huey Long: Give every family $5,000/per yr by taxing the rich. He was assassinated.

Reactions to the New Deal Father Coughlin's radio show wanted the nationalization of banks & utilities. He was anti-Semitic (anti-Jewish) & ordered to end show by church. Francis Townsend: Give $200 to ppl over 65yrs old believing $$ spent by them would end the Great Depression. Father Coughlin Francis Townsend

Threats to the New Deal Biggest threat to New Deal was the Supreme Court of the U.S. (SCOTUS) SCOTUS ruled that some New Deal programs were unconstitutional. Schechter Poultry Co.=convicted of failing to obey the National Recovery Act. Schacter appealed in Schacter Poultry vs U.S. SCOTUS ruled that Congress couldn’t give the President/Federal Gov’t more power.

FDR’s Supreme Court Justice Packing Plan After Schechter, FDR feared SCOTUS would declare other New Deal programs unconstitutional FDR thought Justices old & out of touch w/ the nation’s needs. FDR’s Court Packing Plan (1937): Retire Justices over 70 w/ full pay If a Justice didn’t retire & was over 70 ½ years old, an “assistant” w/ voting rights would be appointed # of Justices increased from 9 to 15 by appointing 6 extra This would ensure FDR got his New Deal programs.

FDR’s Supreme Court Justice Packing Plan VIOLATED THE SEPARATION OF POWERS FDR’s court packing was disliked by Congress and the public Justices stopped overruling New Deal legislation like the National Labor Relations Act & the Social Security Act after the Court Packing Plan.

Women: Eleanor Roosevelt Rallied women with book, “It’s Up to the Women” telling women to pull through the crisis Worked to achieve equality for minorities & women. Took over the job of traveling and reporting back to FDR on the state of the country as he became more crippled from polio.

Women: Frances Perkins 1st Female member of U.S. Cabinet as Secretary of Labor Worked post for 12yrs Oversaw the Civil Conservation Corps & Public Works Administration Played a key role in passage of the Social Security Act

Legacy of the NEW DEAL AKA Federalism FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXPANDED!! Increased power made it possible to the gov’t to control the actions of private citizens. Taxes rise and led to Deficit Spending (when FDR leaves office the US is 260 B in Debt) Gov’t got involved in social welfare problems Greater Gov’t concern for U.S. workers 10 million people still unemployed in 1938 Environmental gains through parks, dams, & forest Renewed faith in democracy