The New Deal Under Attack
Why did both Democrats and Republicans attack FDR and his New Deal?
What solution did FDR propose to prevent these attacks?
Under Attack
• Both liberals (democrats) and conservatives (republicans) had negative things to say about New Deal legislation.
• Liberals felt that the New Deal did not do enough to help the needy.
• Conservatives felt the legislation helped too much and that FDR was gaining too much power as the executive. People feared FDR was becoming a dictator.
The Supreme Court
• By 1935-6, during FDR’s second term as president, the Supreme Court declared two pieces of New Deal legislation unconstitutional. – National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA)-gave
legislative powers to the president. – Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)-agriculture was
supposed to be regulated by the states, not the federal government.
• Thus, FDR felt the Supreme Court was trying to limit his power.
FDR’s Response
• FDR proposed a bill to Congress in 1937 for a court reform bill.
• This bill would reorganize the judiciary, and allow FDR to appoint 6 new justices.
• Roosevelt argued the bill would make the judiciary more effective, but really he just wanted a more sympathetic Supreme Court.
Court Packing Bill
• This bill quickly became known as the “Court packing bill”
• Congress NEVER PASSED this legislation-WHY?• However, FDR was able to appoint 7 new
justices over his four terms due to resignations or retirements
• This will change the scope of the Supreme Court in the decades to come
Focusing Questions
• How will FDR’s proposal of the court packing bill lead to further attacks?
• Do you think FDR asserted too much power as a president?– Review political cartoons from last week