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