Opposition to the New Deal

9 judges - majority chosen by Republicans and could serve for life

Schechter Poultry Corp. signed up to NRA but broke rules and then took the case to the Supreme Court - claimed federal gov didn't have power over trade within a state - NRA effectively closed down

proposed all judges retire at 70 - average age was 71 - didn't happen but stopped Supreme Court interference

1936 Alfred Langdon lost against FDR, didn't like the Revenue Act 1935 - plan to raise taxes

1938 elections to congress gave them more seats, housing plan and request for more public works rejected 1939

conservatives from both parties, business leaders - du Pont brothers, spent over $1 million

Chamber of Commerce - publicly criticised 2nd New Deal legislation 1935, Iron and Steel Institute paid for Schechter brothers' appeal

around 150,000 joined Liberty League, Supreme Court began to support New Deal laws after 1937, Liberty League told to stay out of 1936 elections by Republicans

governor of Lousiana, 'Share Our Wealth' programme, 8 million joined his clubs, shot 1935

priest, radio show 'The Golden Hour of the Little Flower' had 30 million listeners, set up National Union for Social Justice - currency and banking reform, anti-semitic

retired public health officer, Old Age Revolving Pension Ltd. - everyone over 60 gets $200 a month to pend in 30 days, 20 million signed his petition

novelist, ran for governor in California, 'End Poverty in California' - empty land and disused factories opened for the unemployed

couldn't block FDR but had influence - Social Security Act and Revenue Act 1935 both responses to their criticism

farm income rose to $4.6 billion, RFC helped 6,000 banks reopen, unemployment fell to 9.5 million by 1939

WPA employed 8 million, 35% population recieved relief, Social Security Act

Wagner Act, electrification

farm income rarely reached 1929 levels, 106 banks that recieved extra funds forced to close, unemployment 1929 - 3.2%, 1939 - 17.2%

work relief projects - work for 40% who needed, relied on gov. spending - when FDR tried to cut spending unemployment rose by around 5%

Social Security System left out agricultural workers and domestic servants, gap between rich and poor very similar 1930 and 1940

more influence in politics due to work of Roosevelts wife Eleanor, women's division in WPA, Social Security Act provided grants for women with dependent children

half a man's wage in 1937, women in professional jobs fell 14.2% - 12.3%, camps for women - 5,000 places a year

'Black Cabinet' - more political power, 30% black families recieved relief, some CCC camps were integrated

AAA forced black tenants off farmland, relief payments often lower than white people, most workers had no access to social security

Indian Reorganisation Act restored 7.4 million acres to tribes, chance to vote and govern themselves, new law recognised right of Native American women to vote

plan to kill large numbers of the Navajo tribe's sheep and goats, most still very poor, reliance on agencies like WPA left them without help when they closed down

Lend-Lease Act - sent equipment to allies

overall farm income rose by around 50%, exports grew by over 70%, unemployment fell from 9.5 million to 5.5 million