Chapter 10 Section 3
New Deal Coalition
Pages: 520-525
Big Ideas
1936- FDR wins big in reelection
n Court packing and recession weaken his
power
n One more round of help
n Legacy of New Deal
n
Roosevelt’s Second Term
n
1936- Millions believe New Deal has “saved
their lives”
n
Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?
n
Coalition of
Blacks/Women/farmers/immigrants
(Democratic Powerbase)
n
All of above had benefited from New Deal
Roosevelt’s Second Term
n
Election of 1936
n
Republican- Kansas Governor- Alfred Landon
• Attacks New Deal (what else would he say…)
• New Deal is too much spending and Gov Power!
n
FDR=wins all but two states and 60% of vote
• Biggest landslide to date……..
Court Packing:
n
Supreme Court- Begins to strike down New
Deal legislation
n
FDR- Furious at “Nine Old Men”
n
Sends bill to increase # of justices (up to 6)
Over 70 ½? President would add a justice
n Known as “Court Packing”
n Do the math with me:
n
Court Packing:
n
Is FDR trying to gain too much power?
n
Was he over stepping his boundaries?
n
Upsets balance of government
• Too much power in one branch of government
• First time Congress tells him “NO”
n
Does back Supreme Court off a little
•Supreme Court was striking
down New Deal legislation.
•Roosevelt proposed a bill to
allow the president to name
a new federal judge for each
who did not retire by age 70
and 1/2.
•6 justices over age limit.
•Would have increased the
number of justices from 9 to
15, giving FDR a majority of
his own appointees on the
court.
•The court-packing bill was
not passed by Congress.
Roosevelt Recession
n
n
n
n
1) 1937- worried about Deficit Spending
2) Roosevelt decides to balance budget.
3) Cuts spending on Alphabet soup programs
4) 1938- Gov Spending is cut= Economy Down!
• Unemployment Surges back
• Roosevelt has to spend again….= Roosevelt Recession
What is more important? Balanced Budget or Gov Spending?
n
Goes against “Keynesianism”
n
John Maynard Keynes- Economist who believes that
government should spend greatly during recessions
Last New Deal Reforms
n
National Housing Act
n
n
Farm Security Admin
n
n
Low Cost Housing
Loans to tenant farmers
Fair Labor Standards Act
n
Protection for workers
Successes of New Deal
AMERICANS IN 1939 WHO WANTED THE NEW
DEAL TO CONTINUE WAS 55%….. 37%
REGARDED IT AS A BAD INFLUENCE AND
WANTED A NEW PRESIDENT…………...
•1) Economy improves/Employment increases
(Slightly)
•2) Self Confidence and Morale go up
•3) US Govt starts DIRECT help (controversial)
****** WWII ended the Great Depression not FDR’s
New Deal
100 days
Criticisms of New Deal
•1) US government and President too powerful
•2) Deficit spending: Govt. spends $$$ to stimulate
the economy and help people even if it means US
Govt. goes into debt.
•3) Welfare/Broker state----Created a population of
Americans who relied on the US Govt. to live
100 days