FDR’s Reelection

Chapter 10, section 4

1936 Election• The New Deal triggered a dramatic shift in

party allegiance by African Americans• After the Civil War, most A-A voted

Republican• Starting in 1936, most will vote Democrat

1936 Election• A-A had made modest

gains because of the New Deal

• FDR tried to make sure that A-A were not excluded from New Deal policies

• Eleanor Roosevelt was very popular in the A-A community

1936 Election• Woman also will support

FDR heavily• FDR appointed the first

woman to a cabinet position, Frances Perkins as the Secretary of Labor

• Also assigned many women to lower-level jobs

1936 Election• Republican Party

nominated Kansas Governor Alfred Landon to run against FDR

• Roosevelt won in the one of the largest landslides in American history

• 523-8 in the electoral vote

Court-Packing Plan

• Although popular, FDR had trouble with the Supreme Court

• They declared AAA, as well as other programs, unconstitutional

• FDR was furious

Court-Packing Plan

• FDR’s “court-packing plan” became his first serious political mistake

• Sent a bill to Congress that would add a judge for every judge over the age of 70

• This would allow him to add 6

Court-Packing Plan

• Issue split the Democratic Party• Many Americans believed this would give

the President too much power• The bill never passed and hurt FDR’s

reputation

1937 Recession

• 1937 unemployed surged again• Caused by Social Security and FDR

cutting spending

1937 Recession

• Enabled Republicans to win seats in Congress

• FDR not as successful in passing legislation

1937 Recession

• Fair Labor Standards Act—

• Abolished child labor

• Established a 40-hour work week for workers

Legacy of New Deal

• Depression will not end until WWII• Success was limited, but gave many

Americans stability and security

Legacy of New Deal

• New public attitude towards gov’t• American people now see the duty of the

gov’t to play a larger role to assist in times of crisis

• The gov’t increased it’s presence and power