23 2 New Deal Critics Limitations of the

23. 2 New Deal Critics

Limitations of the New Deal ►Fair Labor Standards Act only set minimum wage at $. 25/hr. ►Less helpful to women and minorities. ►Lower wages for women were permitted and men were often preferred for jobs.

►African Americans were not usually offered jobs at the professional level. ►They were kept out of skilled jobs and received lower pay than whites. ►Early Depression saw an increase in lynching. ►FDR did appoint a lot of African Americans to policy making posts.

Political Critics ►The Second New Deal saw an increase of taxes on the rich. ►Revenue Act (Wealth Tax Act) raised tax rate on individuals with income over $50, 000. ►Alfred Smith led the American Liberty League in opposition to the New Deal.

►Others claimed the New Deal did not do enough to eliminate poverty. ►Wisconsin Progressive claimed the New Deal did not “spread the wealth around enough. ”

Other Critics ►Father Coughlin-Radio Priestweekly audience of over 10 mill people. ►Popular at first but lost credibility due to his shaky standings-first support New Deal then not etc. . ►Became anti-Jewish, praised Hitler

►Huey Long ►Long wanted a complete redistribution of wealth in the country. ►Limit income to $1 mill. ►He helped pressure FDR to levy more taxes on wealthy. ►Executed by political rival in 1935.

Modern Day Critics ►Some say New Deal threatened American free enterprise. ►People opposed the idea of deficit spending. ►People believed New Deal violated free-market system. ►You decide.

FDR and Court Packing ►Constitution makes no provision for amount of Supreme Court justices. ►Traditionally nine. ►FDR want to add at least 6 more. ►To ease the case load burden of the aging judges or so he said.

►FDR really wanted more judges in there that would side with his way of thinking. ►Get more legislation passed through easier. ►Too much opposition forced to withdraw his bill.