Wrapping-up the New Deal

FDR & SCOTUS Between 1933-1936, SCOTUS ruled against FDR’s New Deal in 7 out of 9 cases. 1935 – Struck down the NIRA Schechter v. US 1935 – Struck down the AAA Butler v. US *In 1936, FDR wins a landslide election, which he interprets as a mandate to press on with the New Deal. The Hughes Court

The Judiciary Reorganization Bill of 1937: FDR attempts to “Pack the Court” Six of the nine high court justices were 70+ years old. For those that didn’t retire at 70, FDR wanted to appoint an additional justice. Widespread criticism of FDR’s “Court Packing Scheme”. While the effort fails and it remains a stain on FDR’s legacy, SCOTUS effectively stopped its opposition to the New Deal.

First & Second New Deals First New Deal (1933-35) Focus – Relief, Recovery, Reform “First Hundred Days” Bank Holiday Emergency Banking Act Glass-Steagall Act Fire Side Chats CCC FERA AAA TVA NIRA SEC Second New Deal (1935-36) Responded to critics with more spending and a focus on long- term reforms. WPA Social Security Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act Wagner Act US Housing Authority Indian Recovery Act Rural Electrification Act

The New Deal as a transformative moment in history: Challenged old power structures and created new ones. Created new social roles & opportunities for growing number that worked for government, unions, and in agriculture. Advanced American pluralism by opening jobs/power to Catholics, Jews and Blacks. Shifted the center of American politics by taking responsibility for: Steering the economy Promoting social welfare Regulating and protecting labor unions Curbing the abuses of government *Afterward, Americans would increasingly expect their government to ensure prosperous times, good jobs, and high wages as well as to aid those unable to fend for themselves. **Traditional, conservatives still clung to: self-help, limited government, states’ rights, and fiscal responsibility.