Lecture Notes: The Election of Lecture Notes: The Election of 19361936

Conservatives form American Liberty Conservatives form American Liberty LeagueLeague

The rich saw FDR’s work as socialismThe rich saw FDR’s work as socialism• Even-handiness with unionsEven-handiness with unions• Increased gov’t regulations on businessIncreased gov’t regulations on business• Taxes on upper income individualsTaxes on upper income individuals

They were accustomed to having there They were accustomed to having there way in the 1920’s, so they resented the way in the 1920’s, so they resented the increased power of gov’t and laborincreased power of gov’t and labor

Conservative’s cont.Conservative’s cont.

The “New Deal” was not anti-capitalistThe “New Deal” was not anti-capitalist• Regarded as the “savior of capitalism”Regarded as the “savior of capitalism”• Gov’t intentionally sought to “to energize private Gov’t intentionally sought to “to energize private

enterprise”enterprise”• New Deal programs sought to strengthen and New Deal programs sought to strengthen and

rejuvenate the American democratic-capitalist rejuvenate the American democratic-capitalist systemsystem

Three popular men to run against Three popular men to run against FDRFDR

Democratic Senator Huey P. Long of Democratic Senator Huey P. Long of LouisianaLouisiana

• As governor he endured himself to the average As governor he endured himself to the average personperson

• ““Share the Wealth” programShare the Wealth” program called for a heavy tax on large incomes and a 100% tax called for a heavy tax on large incomes and a 100% tax

on incomes over one million dollars a yearon incomes over one million dollars a year these taxes would in his opinion allow for the these taxes would in his opinion allow for the

redistribution of the nation’s wealth and pay for an redistribution of the nation’s wealth and pay for an enormous public works programenormous public works program

• he also advocated a national minimum wage; a he also advocated a national minimum wage; a shortened work week; a balanced farm program; shortened work week; a balanced farm program; and immediate payment of WWI bonusesand immediate payment of WWI bonuses

Three popular men to run against Three popular men to run against FDR cont.FDR cont.

Father Charles E. CoughlinFather Charles E. Coughlin• Roman-Catholic priestRoman-Catholic priest• World’s largest radio audienceWorld’s largest radio audience• Major complaint: gov’t was not moving fast Major complaint: gov’t was not moving fast

enough to inflate the currencyenough to inflate the currency• He created the National Union for Social JusticeHe created the National Union for Social Justice

He was convinced capitalism was dead and that a form He was convinced capitalism was dead and that a form of social justice would take its place similar to Italian of social justice would take its place similar to Italian fascism.fascism.

Three popular men to run against Three popular men to run against FDR cont.FDR cont.

Dr. Francis TownsendDr. Francis Townsend• Elderly pension programElderly pension program

pay $200/month, must spend that monthpay $200/month, must spend that month pension would be financed by a 2% tax increase on pension would be financed by a 2% tax increase on

business transactionsbusiness transactions

Republican candidate Alf Landon of KansasRepublican candidate Alf Landon of Kansas• Republican hopes that Huey Long would run 3rd Republican hopes that Huey Long would run 3rd

party and steal votes from FDRparty and steal votes from FDR

Prior to the ElectionPrior to the Election

September 1935: Long is assassinatedSeptember 1935: Long is assassinated Coughlin called the President anti-God and Coughlin called the President anti-God and

communist; Vatican censored himcommunist; Vatican censored him Townsend’s plan was countered with the Townsend’s plan was countered with the

Social Security ActSocial Security Act

FDR’s win FDR’s win

FDR’s win (he carried every state but FDR’s win (he carried every state but Maine and Vermont) set up the gov’t for Maine and Vermont) set up the gov’t for the next 30 yearsthe next 30 years

Base of coalition was:Base of coalition was:• Urban workers in large northern cities and Urban workers in large northern cities and

southern whites who could not vote for Abraham southern whites who could not vote for Abraham Lincoln’s partyLincoln’s party

• Northern Blacks abandoned the republican Northern Blacks abandoned the republican party for the democrats because of New Deal party for the democrats because of New Deal economic solutions and Mrs. Roosevelt’s economic solutions and Mrs. Roosevelt’s support of Civil Rightssupport of Civil Rights

• Wagner Act ensured the union voteWagner Act ensured the union vote

End of the New DealEnd of the New Deal

The following events all hurt FDR’s ability to The following events all hurt FDR’s ability to pass New Deal legislationpass New Deal legislation The court packing schemeThe court packing scheme Sit down strikesSit down strikes The recession of 1937The recession of 1937 The failed attempt to purge Southern conservative The failed attempt to purge Southern conservative

Democrats during the elections of 1938Democrats during the elections of 1938

WWII ended the Great Depression and the WWII ended the Great Depression and the demand for new social and economic programs.demand for new social and economic programs.

Impact of the New Deal on US Impact of the New Deal on US societysociety

FDR greatly increased the power of the FDR greatly increased the power of the executive branch of governmentexecutive branch of government

The federal government became more The federal government became more involved in people’s lives.involved in people’s lives.

Interest groups gained powerInterest groups gained power The government guaranteed most citizens The government guaranteed most citizens

minimum economic standardsminimum economic standards The New Deal helped ensure that The New Deal helped ensure that

democratic-capitalism survived in America.democratic-capitalism survived in America.