Chapter 12 Part 2

The New Deal continued

Criticism of the New Deal

• Others believedthat FDR had turned the US intoa socialist country

• Roosevelt began deficit spending by borrowing money to pay for his programs.

Huey Long• Huey Long was a former

governor and current senator from Louisiana who opposed the New Deal.

• Ran a populist “Share the Wealth” program and gained incredible popularity

• Was going to run for president in 1936 but was assassinated in 1935

Carl Weiss: The Physician • The man said to have killed Huey

Long• Long was trying to get rid of his

father-in-law as judge• Said to be in a good mood by his

parents that day…• Tried to talk to Long twice at the

court house and was brushed off…3rd time he shot him

• Body guards shot Weiss 30 times• Largest known funeral ever for

an assassin

Father Coughlin• Father Coughlin was a catholic priest from

Detroit who opposed the New Deal on his weekly radio show. (30-45 million listeners)

Dr. Francis Townsend• Dr. Francis Townsend said

to give everyone over 60 years of age $200 a month not to work in factories.

Second New Deal• Some of the Second New Deal policies were:

1. Works Progress Administration(WPA)- Spent 11 billion fixing streets,bridges, airports, and parks

2. Committee for Industrial Organization- Organized industrial unions

3. Social Security Act- Provides money for elderly

people when they retire- People could begin collecting at age 65

WPA Construction Workers

WPA Sewing Shop

The most controversial part of the WPA was the hiring of artists, playwrights, orchestras, and

journalists.

WPA Artists 90% of WPA work went to unskilled labor…but artists were also hired for propaganda

purposes (and to give work)

WPA Propaganda

WPA Park Photographer

WPA Art Mural

WPA-made art poster

UAW• Sit Down Strikes are when workers would stop doing their

job and sit down. The workers would then refuse to leave the factory.

• The United Auto Workers (UAW) organized a Sit Down strike the General Motors Plant in Flint Michigan on December 31st 1936.

• Workers were passed food from family members through the fence.

• On February 11th 1937, GM recognized the strike and the UAW became very popular.

Passing food into the workers

Sit down strike supporters

The Strike Ends!

National Guard at the Maytag Strike

Roosevelt’s Second Term• FDR’s wife Eleanor made sure he began putting

African Americans in important governmental jobs.• These African Americans became known as the

Black Cabinet. • In all, FDR had 45 African-American members in his

executive branch of New Deal departments

• He appointed Frances Perkins to his cabinet which was the first lady member.

Frances Perkinsled the Dept. of Labor for 12 years

Court-Packing Plan• Roosevelt called the Supreme Court “nine old men.”• FDR’s idea was to increase the number of justices.

If a justice did not retire at the age of 70, the President could appoint another justice to serve.

• This idea was cancelled in Congress but made the Supreme Court realize it needed to work more closely with FDR.

Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

• This provided the first federal minimum wage at 25 cents an hour and provided more protection.

• This was the LAST MAJOR piece of New Deal legislation

• Republicans won back many seats in Congress and by 1939 the New Deal was over.

• FDR began to focus more on world issues rising out of Germany and Europe.

LEGACY OF THE NEW DEAL

• Only moderately successful• We wouldn’t fully get out of the depression

until after WWII• Increased the role of the federal government

incredibly—and this debate still goes on today• BUT it did instill faith in the lower classes that

the federal government would help them when they need it