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Radical Opposition to the New Deal
What was radical opposition to the New Deal?
Radical opponents of the New Deal criticised it because they didn't think it did enough for poor people or to make American society more equal.
Who were the radical opponents of the New Deal?
There were a number of radical critics of Roosevelt and the New Deal, some of whom were very powerful and influential.
- ❖ Huey Long, the governor of Louisiana.
- ❖ Father Charles Coughlin, a Roman Catholic priest and radio preacher.
- ❖ Retired public health official Dr Francis Townsend.
- ❖ Novelist Upton Sinclair.
Why did Huey Long oppose the New Deal?
Huey Long was popular as the governor of Louisiana because he taxed businesses heavily to pay for public schemes. He believed the New Deal didn't do enough for the poor.
- ❖ He claimed the NRA was controlled by big business, that the AAA left poor farmers homeless and that Social Security failed as it kept the poor poor.
- ❖ He came up with the 'Share Our Wealth' scheme, which was supposed to take money from the very wealthy and use it to provide everyone with a yearly income of $2500. About eight million Americans joined the Share Our Wealth clubs.
- ❖ Long planned to run in the 1936 presidential election. He might have won had he not been assassinated in 1935.
Why did Father Coughlin oppose the New Deal?
Father Coughlin broadcast his views on a programme called The Golden Hour For This Little Flower, which had 30 million listeners. He originally supported FDR, but later turned against him.
- ❖ In 1934 Coughlin set up the National Union for Social Justice, calling for more reforms of banking and business, fairer taxes and for the government to take over some industries (nationalisation).
- ❖ In 1936, with Townsend and Gerald Smith of the Share Our Wealth scheme, Coughlin set up the National Union Party and promoted William Lemke for president in the 1936 election.
- ❖ The Second New Deal answered many of Roosevelt's critics by doing some of the things they asked for, and made it harder for them to oppose him. Coughlin's anti-Semitic views also caused him to lose support.
Why did Doctor Townsend oppose the New Deal?
Doctor Francis Townsend founded Old Age Revolving Pensions Ltd, which suggested that over-60s were given $200 monthly, funded by a 2% sales tax. 20 million people signed a petition to support this.
Why did Upton Sinclair oppose the New Deal?
Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle, about poor conditions for workers and argued that empty factories and land should be given to the unemployed to use. He ran for governor in California, but was defeated.
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