New Deal Dbq

The New Deal has been one of the most influential governmental policies in American history. It was led by Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide relief to millions of Americans who lived in fear after losing their jobs, homes, and hope during The Great Depression. Soon after The New Deal was implemented, Americans started criticizing such plan. Many felt that too much had been offered, but too little had been achieved. Others believed the new policies offered by Franklin D. Roosevelt had in fact expanded governmental activity and its regulatory role weakened the autonomy of American business. Critics came from both sides of the political spectrum including the Supreme Court. Representative William Lenke from North Dakota, Francis Townsend a California physician, Father Charles Coughlin a Catholic priest from Detroit, and Senator Huey P. Long from Louisiana were other famous radicals who opposed The New Deal. These critiques argued and believed that The New

Deal had been a failure in sparking an underlying economic recovery and the achieving of meaningful long-term reforms.
Major laws were passed during Roosevelts first one hundred days in office.

Many of which others believed The New Deal was going against basic principles in the American Constitution. These people along with the Supreme Court believed the government should not interfere with the nation's economy, much less help the poor. Just as the laws had been passed, they were later viewed as unconstitutional by The Supreme Court and resulted in many of them getting vetoed. The American Liberty League organization formed in 1934, one year after The New Deal had been established. The league wanted to end The New Deal. Their objective was to "teach the necessity of respect for the rights of persons and property and the duty of government to encourage and protect individual and group initiative and enterprise, to foster the right to work, earn, save and acquire property, and to preserve the ownership and lawful use of property when acquired" (Rudolph, 20). They too though of The New Deal as unconstitutional and wanted to end

it.
Initially, Father Coughlin believed The New Deal was a great idea and would help the economy but later criticized it. He believed Roosevelt was not doing enough in instituting his reforms. He used his radio broadcast that millions of Americans listened to demanding for social justice and financial reforms. Francis Townsend a California physician was another spokesman against The New Deal. He proposed The Townsend Plan to "aid the nation's elderly and called for a government pension to every American over the age of 60, provided that the recipient retired from work and spent the entire pension" (Goldfield, et al. p. 580). Coughlin and Townsend also believed too much had been offered and too little had been accomplished.
The most famous New Deal opponent was Huey P. Long. He was a senator from Louisiana whom also supported Roosevelt at first. "In 1934, he organized the Share-Our Wealth Society" (Goldfiel, et al. p. 580). Long later criticized Roosevelt for not doing enough for the poor. Long wanted to put an end to poverty and unemployment by taxing the rich. Long nicknamed himself the Kingfish due to his "every man a king" motto. His organization grew largely within a couple of months and had great impact among the poor. Long posed great threat against Roosevelt for the upcoming reelection, but that threat was gone with his assassination in 1935.
The New Deal was supposed to bring relief to many Americans after The Great Depression. To some it did, but to others it did not. Soon after, many Americans started criticizing it, and many others went to the extremes of attempting to come up with their own solutions. The Supreme Court vetoed many of the laws passed by The New Deal viewing them as unconstitutional. Long, Coughlin, and Townsend were among the most famous radical speakers whom later unfavored The New Deal. They believed The New Deal had offered too much to its people, but too little had been accomplished. They all had great impact in developing what is now our economy.