The Second New Deal The Election of 1936

The Second New Deal

The Election of 1936 There is a shift in the 1936 election. Many Southern whites and African Americans, along women, new immigrants and intellectuals were now firmly behind Roosevelt. Mrs. Roosevelt recognized this while touring the country and persuaded FDR to address the problems of women and African Americans in his New Deal programs.

The Black Cabinet • Roosevelt appointed a number of African Americans to positions in his administration, which came to be known as the *Black Cabinet, and tried to see that New Deal relief programs did not exclude African Americans. Women also gained new positions as well. *Francis Perkins became the first woman appointed to a Cabinet position.

1936 Elections Alfred Landon, Republican presidential candidate, 1936 Roosevelt easily defeats Alfred Landon in the largest landslide victory in American history, winning over 60% of the popular vote and every state except Maine and Vermont.

1936 Elections > Gallup predicts FDR will be reelected

The Second New Deal Works Progress Administration poster

The Second New Deal National Youth Administration center, Detroit, MI, 1936

1936 Elections > Literary Digest and Gallup polls Literary Digest Final Poll Landon 57% Roosevelt 43 States for Landon 32 States for FDR 16 January 1936 Gallup Poll By Income Roosevelt Upper third 41% Lower third 70 Reliefers 82 Landon 59% 30 18 A. I. P. O. (Gallup) Final Poll Roosevelt Landon States for FDR States for Landon On the line 55. 7% 44. 3 40 6 2 Election Results Roosevelt 61% Landon 49% States for FDR 46 States for Landon 2 October 1936 Gallup Poll Farmers Roosevelt 52. 6% Landon 42. 1% Women Roosevelt 51. 4% Landon 44. 8% Young People (21– 24 Years) Roosevelt 57. 4% Landon 38. 4% Reliefers Roosevelt 78. 8% Landon 14. 0%

1936 Elections > Percentage vote for Roosevelt in black districts, 1932 and 1936

The Court-Packing Plan • Early in the year 1936, he asked Congress to pass the Judiciary Reorganization Bill of 1937. That proposal would have given the president the power to appoint a new justice whenever an existing judge reached the age of 70 and failed to retire within six months. In that way Roosevelt hoped to preserve the New Deal legislation. But he had stirred up a hornet`s nest since many congressmen feared he might start to retire them at 70 next. Many congressmen considered the proposal unconstitutional. In the end the proposal failed. • Roosevelt received a great deal of criticism for the courtpacking plan.

Court Packing > “Fall In!, ” Richmond Times Dispatch, 1937

Court Packing > “He Just Ain’t Fast Enough, ” Brooklyn Citizen, 1937

Court Packing > “Step by Step, ” Buffalo News, 1937

New Deal > Anti-Roosevelt cartoon, 1938

The Last New Deal Reforms The National Housing Act-established the United States Housing Authority, which was designed to eliminate slums and replace them with low-cost housing. The Farm Security Administration-created to give loans to tenant farmers, who had lost their land because of a cut in production, so they could purchase farms. The Fair Labor Standards Act-

The Last New Deal Reforms Cont. The Fair Labor Standards Act-provided more protection for workers, abolished child labor and established a 40 -hour work wee for many workers. By the 1939 the New Deal had ended because of a pushback from Congress, but Roosevelt was distracted by the international threat posed by Japan and the rise of Hitler in Germany.