Unit 4 Lesson 5.docx

During the New Deal, some minority groups made gains and FDR faced opposition from both liberal and conservative Americans.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt, FDR’s wife, revolutionized the role of First Lady
She was very active and travelled the country, reporting to FDR about how the New Deal was working
She met regularly with ordinary Americans to learn their needs and views
She was even bolder than FDR in promoting rights and equality for women, blacks, poor farmers, and factory workers
She delivered speeches and wrote regular newspaper columns, using her fame to influence policies

Minority Groups during the New Deal

1. Women

Women were hired in some New Deal programs but were sometimes accused of stealing men’s jobs and were often paid less
However, women were empowered some during the New Deal
Eleanor Roosevelt’s work promoted women’s rights and equality
FDR appointed Frances Perkins as Secretary of Labor, making her the first woman ever to hold a presidential cabinet position
Women began to vote for Democrats more

2. Blacks

Blacks were hired in New Deal programs, but were often segregated
Eleanor Roosevelt boldly promoted black rights and equality
FDR employed many blacks in government jobs, but he did little to stop lynching or poll taxes
Blacks, who had mostly favored Republicans since the Civil War, began to vote for Democrats more

3. Native Americans

Native Americans were hired in some New Deal programs
During the New Deal, long-standing policies that hurt Native Americans were reversed
Indian Reorganization Act—this law repealed the Dawes Act and promoted the preservation of tribes, their land, and their cultures

4. Mexican immigrants

Mexican immigrants, who were welcomed to work during the “Roaring 20s,” experienced increased nativism
They were accused of stealing American jobs and were often discriminated against in New Deal programs
Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans, including American citizens, were forced to move to Mexico during the New Deal

Election of 1936

Political Shifts:
Democrats had traditionally promoted small federal government (states’ rights) and segregation
Much support for Democrats traditionally came from white southerners
The New Deal increased federal government power and helped some minority groups
New Deal Coalition—women, blacks, western farmers, factory workers, and progressives began supporting Democrats too
Election of 1936:
The New Deal’s popularity and “New Deal Coalition” votes helped FDR win reelection easily in 1936

Cracks in the Democratic Party

Democratic Party Factions Form:
The Democratic Party began a split into factions
Traditional Democrats supported small federal government (states’ rights) and racial segregation in the South
“New Deal Democrats” favored expanded federal power, progressive reforms, and increased rights for minority groups
This tension would split the party in later elections

Liberal Critics of the New Deal

Some liberal Americans felt that FDR’s New Deal did not go far enough to help Americans

1. Francis Townsend

The “Townsend Plan” suggested giving Americans over 60 years old a $200 retirement pension
By requiring the pension be spent, the economy would be stimulated
FDR modified this popular plan with the more moderate Social Security Act

2. Father Charles Coughlin

Father Coughlin, a Catholic priest, drew mass support through radio
He felt the New Deal was too moderate and called for government control of many major industries, including railroads and banks
He was eventually silenced after supporting anti-Semitism and some of Adolf Hitler’s policies

3. Huey Long

Huey Long was FDR’s biggest political threat and FDR considered him dangerous
Long planned to challenge FDR in the Election of 1936 and made bold promises
He campaigned to “make every man a king” by guaranteeing an income for all Americans
Long was powerful, but corrupt, and some feared he could become an American dictator
Long was assassinated in 1935 and FDR was reelected president in 1936

Conservative Critics of the New Deal

Some conservative Americans felt the New Deal threatened traditional American government and economics

1. Conservative Politicians

Some worried that government had grown too radical and resembled socialism or communism
Many politicians, especially southerners, disliked the expanded power of the federal government over state governments

2. Business Leaders

Business leaders felt the federal government was regulating the economy too much
They felt businesses were too constrained and that unions had too much power
Deficit spending—borrowing money to pay for government programs instead of keeping a balanced budget
Business leaders saw FDR’s eventual use of deficit spending to fund the New Deal as dangerous

3. The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, which contained many conservative justices, was the biggest obstacle to FDR’s New Deal
By 1935, the Supreme Court ruled the NRA and AAA unconstitutional and was set to review other New Deal laws

The Court-Packing Plan

Court-Packing Plan—FDR’s attempted law would expand the Supreme Court from 9 to 15 justices and force older (conservative) justices to retire
FDR could then appoint more liberal, pro-New Deal justices
Many Americans saw this as an abuse of power that hurt the checks and balances system
Congress rejected FDR’s “court-packing plan” and he lost some support from Americans

The New Deal Loses Momentum

1. FDR’s “court-packing plan” hurt his reputation and he got less cooperation from Congress

2. In 1937, despite the New Deal, the economy dipped back into a brief recession

3. Americans became increasingly concerned with foreign policy issues as Nazi Germany and imperial Japan gained power