1. Opposition to the New Deal
2 million jobs were created in the First New Deal.
10 million were still unemployed in 1935.

2. Relief Recovery Reform National Recovery Act, 1933
Emergency Banking Act, 1933
Federal Emergency Relief Act, 1933
Public Works Administration, 1933
Works Progress Administration, 1935
Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933
Tennessee Valley Authority, 1933
Glass-Steagall Banking Act, 1933
Securities Exchange Act, 1934
Social Security Act, 1935
National Labor Relations Act, 1935
Fair Labor Standards Act, 1938
National Recovery Act, 1933
Home Owners Loan Corp, 1933
Federal Housing Administration, 1934
Agricultural Adjustment Act, 1933 and 1937
                           

3. Political Spectrum
LEFT
Liberal
RIGHT
Conservative

4. Liberal Critics New Deal is too conservative
Communists
William Z. Foster
Socialists
Norman Thomas

5. Liberal Critics New Deal is too conservative
Lawyer; Gov. Louisiana; Senator
Share-Our-Wealth Program
100% tax on rich
“Every man a King”
Assassinated 1935
“Kingfish”
Huey Long

6. Father Charles Coughlin
Liberal Critics New Deal is too conservative
Known as the “Radio Priest”
Early FDR supporter (1932) – “Roosevelt or Ruin”
Turns on FDR
“Social justice”
Father Charles Coughlin

7. Liberal Critics New Deal is too conservative
Retired California Physician
Townsend Plan
Revolving Old Age Pension Plan
Social Security Act 1935
Dr. Francis E. Townsend

8. Conservative Critics “New Deal is too liberal”
American Liberty League
Backed by business leaders and politicians
Promote laissez-faire gov’t
Why criticize?
Defend Capitalism
Protect the Constitution

9. The Supreme Court Conservative Majority
New Deal Unconstitutional?

10. Opposition from the Supreme Court
Supreme Court most powerful opponent
Dominated by anti-ND Republicans
Could overturn ND laws as unconstitutional
MAY 1935: Schechter Poultry Corp. found guilty of violating NIRA regulations
Sold diseased chickens for people to eat
Filed false sales claims to inflate value
Exploited workers
Threatened gov’t inspectors
SC ruled in favor of Schechter on appeal
Fed gov’t had no right to prosecute company
NIRA was unconstitutional
NIRA took too much power away from states

11. ‘Court Packing Scheme’
FDR furious
SC denied laws citizens wanted FDR to use
FDR asked Congress to expand SC from 9 justices to 15, the new six being pro-ND
FDR misjudged mood of Americans
Citizens alarmed at FDR’s grab for power
Feared FDR attacking American system of gov’t
FDR had to back down
‘A switch in time saves nine’
Less obstructionist from Fall ’35 onward
7 justices retired allowing FDR to shape future.
Most Second New Deal measures approved by SC in 1937