American History Chapter 16: The New Deal

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American History Chapter 16 The New Deal

• II. The New Deals Critics

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Objectives

• Learn about some of the New Deals shortcomings
  and limitations.
• Discover the chief complaints of FDRs critics
  inside and outside of politics.
• See how the court-packing fiasco harmed FDRs
  reputation.

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Bell Ringer

• I feel that our President is doing an outstanding
  job, and I agree with his policies
• Do you agree
• Consider the reasons people criticize their
  leaders.
• Page 545

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A) The Limitations of the New Deal

• Fair Labor Standards Act set minimum wage at 25
  cents an hour less than what most made
• Women and minorities treated unfairly
• New Deal programs gave jobs to men heads of
  families nothing for domestic service
  largest female occupation (546)
• SS did not cover farmers or domestic workers
  2/3 of AA bill making lynching a federal crime
  was not endorsed by Roosevelt (546)
• AA did support Roosevelt first fired last hired
  were happy for jobs more minorities appointed
  to key positions than any other President.
• Marian Anderson

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B) Political Critics

• New Deal does too much (rich and business
  leaders) TVA and REA socialistic tax on rich
  SS militaristic Bolshevism unAmerican
• American Liberty League Organization founded in
  1934 opposed to the New Deal (Alfred Smith)
• New Deal does not do enough Upton Sinclair
  (Socialist) ran for governor of California won
  Democrat primary wanted state to take over
  factories and farms
• Progressivism revived in Wisconsin asking for
  greater redistribution of wealth

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C) Other Critics

• demagogues leaders who manipulate people with
  half-truths, deceptive promises, and scare
  tactics.
• Father Coughlin dynamic speaker who used the
  radio to broadcast his message.
• nationalization government takeover and
  ownership of banks, businesses and property
• At first supported Roosevelt then late attacked
  him started praising Hitler and Mussolini and
  became anti-Semitic ordered to stop by the
  Catholic church in 1942

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• Huey Long Louisiana Senator and Governor
• Supported New Deal at first later said did not do
  enough
• Wanted Share Our Wealth limit income to 1
  mil and inheritance to 5 mil government take
  rest
• Give families 5,000 household estate and annual
  income of 2,500
• Assassinated before the presidential election in
  1936

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D) Modern Day Critics

• Hindered economic progress, threatened free
  enterprise, encouraged inefficient use of
  resources, powerful government, and usurped state
  governments
• made jobs instead of allowing economy to do it
  on own heavy taxes paid farmers not to plant
  deficit spending
• Deficit spending paying out more money from the
  annual federal budget than the government
  receives in revenue.
• Did it violate free market? Or was the relief
  worth it?

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E) The Court-Packing Fiasco

• Biggest Roosevelt criticism
• 6 judges for everyone over 70 years old
  lighten the burden
• Influencing Judicial Branch attacking checks
  and balances
• Dictators in Europe scared Americans
• Started upholding 2nd New Deal anyway better
  thought out retired and replaced with pro-New
  Deal justices anyway

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Review

• What were some of the shortcomings and limits of
  the New Deal?
• What were the chief complaints of FDRs critics
  inside and outside of politics?
• How did the court-packing fiasco harm FDRs
  reputation?