Critics of the New Deal

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Critics of the New Deal
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Critics

• Not everyone in America was in Love with FDR and
  his programs
• Some felt that Roosevelt was gathering to much
  power and was usurping the Constitution
• American Liberty League was one of these
  organizations
• Many Business leaders felt these programs would
  lead to higher taxes

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• Huey Long a US Senator felt that the President
  needed to go even further
• He wanted the President to guarantee a living
  wage of 5,000.00 to every family in America

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• Proposed to get this wage that the President take
  money from wealthy Americans to give
  (redistribute) to the poor since it is this class
  that created this problem
• Felt that they made millions off the labor of the
  poor during the good times so only right that
  they give back what they have received

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• One other critic of Roosevelt was a Roman
  Catholic Priest Father Charles Coughlin
• Broadcast sermons over the radio
• Initially supported the President
• Eventually realized that all the programs helped
  businesses instead of the people
• Wanted the government to take over all the wealth
  of America and use that money to help out
  everyone
• Same rules would apply to natural resources

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Courts and New Deal

• FDRs program might have been a blessing to those
  who were receiving the benefits but his
  opponents' were dead against it
• Charges any place from stealing power to
  attempting to become a King were charged
• Several of his programs were declared
  unconstitutional by the Supreme Court

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• AAA was ruled unconstitutional
• In an attempt to control the Supreme Court FDR
  attempted to Pack to courts
• Wanted to appoint more judges to the court then
  there were at the time in a hopes that the ones
  he would appoint would vote his way.
• Would allow him to appoint a new justice for
  every judge over the age of 70
• This one bill would allow him to appoint 6 new
  judges as soon as the bill passed
• Congress refused to change the balance of power
  defined by the Constitution

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• The Congress refused to allow Roosevelt to change
  the constitutional balance of power
• After a much heated debate they saw the bill for
  what it was
• An executive that was bound and determined to get
  his way regardless of what it took.
• The Supreme Court did not overturn any more New
  deal Programs
• Before he died Roosevelt was able to nominate 9
  new justices