history

• The Supreme Court's Role:

  • Major obstacle for Roosevelt due to its power to stop New Deal laws.

  • Composed of nine judges, primarily selected by Republicans, generally opposing Roosevelt's political views.

  • Believed the U.S. Constitution restricted government power, favoring individual freedom and state rights.

  • Had to wait for appeals against agency actions or laws to conduct judicial reviews.

  • Sick Chicken Case (Schechter Poultry Corp.):

  • Involved an NRA code violation by the Schechter brothers.

  • Ruling favored the brothers, claiming federal overreach in local trade.

  • Declared that Congress had granted excessive law-making power to the NRA, closing it down.

  • AAA Challenge (1936):

  • A cotton processor contested the AAA tax on his business.

  • The court sided with the processor, establishing that agriculture should be supervised by state, not federal agencies.

  • These decisions significantly undermined Roosevelt's New Deal, which required increased federal powers.

• Roosevelt's Reaction:

  • Created a plan to appoint judges supportive of the New Deal to the Supreme Court.

  • In 1937, proposed to replace every judge over the age of 71—this could potentially allow six new appointees.

  • This plan, known as court-packing, was met with outrage from judges and Congress.

  • Although Congress defeated the plan, the Supreme Court began aligning its decisions with public sentiment, reducing challenges to the New Deal.

  • Over time, as judges retired, Roosevelt appointed more sympathetic judges, securing the New Deal from legal threats.

• Republican Opposition to Roosevelt:

  • Rooted principally in:

  • His affiliation with the Democratic Party, opposition to Republicans.

  • Expanded federal government power, opposing the Alphabet Agencies and supporting anti-New Deal Supreme Court decisions.

  • Excessive federal spending on the New Deal initiatives, including resistance to tax increases from the Revenue Act of 1935.

  • In the 1936 elections, Republican candidate Alfred Landon promised to:

  • Return power to states.

  • Aid farmers.

  • End New Deal regulations.

  • Despite these efforts, most Americans favored Roosevelt, granting him a second presidential term.

  • However, challenges grew after the 1937 recession and the backlash from the court-packing plan.

• Resurgence of Republican Strength (1938):

  • The Republican Party gained more congressional seats after the elections.

  • Many conservative Southern Democrats, disillusioned with Roosevelt, allied with Republicans, strengthening their coalition.

  • Leveraged their new power to:

  • Cut funding for relief programs, with a rapid decline in federal work relief participants.

  • Investigate the Alphabet Agencies, accusing officials of communist affiliations.

  • Block new proposals, rejecting housing plans and additional public works requests in 1939.

  • Overall, 1938 marked a halt to further New Deal progress.

• Final Legislation of the New Deal:

  • The Fair Labor Standards Act was the last significant New Deal legislation passed.

• Business Opposition to the New Deal:

  • Initially benefited from the New Deal, but turned against it once immediate crises abated.

  • Reasons included:

  • Discontent with regulations like minimum wage mandates and working hour restrictions imposed by NRA codes.

  • Support for unions via NIRA and Wagner Act, which empowered unions against business management.

  • Opposition to increased government spending funded by federal taxation for New Deal programs like WPA and Social Security.

Summary:

The Supreme Court posed a major obstacle for Roosevelt due to its power, composed of mostly Republican judges opposing his views and believing in limited government power. Key cases like the Sick Chicken Case and the AAA Challenge hindered Roosevelt's New Deal by declaring excessive federal powers. In response, Roosevelt proposed court-packing to appoint supportive judges, which faced backlash but led to the Court aligning with public sentiment gradually. Republican opposition stemmed from dissatisfaction with Roosevelt's power expansion and spending. The 1938 elections saw Republicans gain strength, cutting relief funding and blocking New Deal proposals. The Fair Labor Standards Act was the final significant New Deal legislation. Initially benefiting from the New Deal, businesses later opposed it due to regulations and increased government spending.