Exam Tips for Opposition to the New Deal
Part of Opposition to the New Deal — GCSE History
This exam tips covers Exam Tips for Opposition to the New Deal within Opposition to the New Deal for GCSE History. Revise Opposition to the New Deal in America 1920-1973 for GCSE History with 10 exam-style questions and 4 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 11 of 12 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 11 of 12
Practice
10 questions
Recall
4 flashcards
💡 Exam Tips for Opposition to the New Deal
🎯 Question Types for This Topic:
- Describe two features (4 marks, ~8 minutes) — Two types of opposition from different groups, each with specific evidence. Do NOT describe both from the same political direction.
- Explain why some Americans opposed the New Deal (8 marks, ~15 minutes) — Must include BOTH left-wing and right-wing opposition to reach Level 3. Each reason needs a developed explanation of WHY that group opposed, not just WHAT they said.
- How far do you agree that [one source of opposition] was the biggest threat? (12+4 SPaG, ~25 minutes) — Consider multiple sources, weigh them against each other, reach a clear judgement with reasoning.
📈 How to Move Up Levels — This Topic Specifically:
- Level 1: "Many people opposed the New Deal, including Republicans and Huey Long." — No explanation, no evidence.
- Level 2: "Huey Long opposed the New Deal because he thought it didn't go far enough. He wanted to give every family $5,000." — Better: one piece of specific evidence. But doesn't explain WHY Long's position was credible or what impact it had.
- Level 3: "Huey Long opposed the New Deal from the left because he believed FDR was protecting banks rather than ordinary Americans. His 'Share Our Wealth' scheme proposed capping fortunes at $5 million and guaranteeing every family a minimum income of $2,000 per year — by 1935 he had 7.5 million supporters, making him a serious political threat. Long's popularity shows that millions of Americans felt the New Deal had not reached them." — Specific evidence, explanation of WHY, impact and significance.
- Level 4: Link Long to the Social Security Act: "Ironically, Long's pressure helped push FDR to introduce the Social Security Act (1935) — a more generous welfare measure than FDR originally planned. This shows that opposition from the left actually strengthened the New Deal rather than weakening it, by forcing FDR to go further than he initially intended."
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Only mentioning right-wing opposition. An answer about Republicans and big business with no mention of Long, Coughlin, or Townsend will be capped at Level 2. Examiners want to see that you understand opposition came from both political directions.
- Saying the court packing plan succeeded. It failed. Congress rejected it. This is a key fact — do not confuse it with the eventual outcome (Court becoming more sympathetic as older judges retired).
- Treating all left-wing critics as the same. Long, Coughlin, and Townsend had different proposals and different bases of support. Coughlin had 30 million radio listeners; Long had 7.5 million club members; Townsend had 5 million supporters. They were not a unified movement.
- Ignoring the impact of opposition on the New Deal itself. The most sophisticated answers show that opposition shaped what the New Deal became — Long's pressure influenced the Social Security Act, the Supreme Court rulings forced better-designed legislation. Opposition had consequences.
Quick Check: Name three critics of the New Deal and state whether each was a left-wing or right-wing opponent. What was each critic's main argument?
Huey Long (left-wing): Thought the New Deal did too little — demanded "Share Our Wealth" with a guaranteed $2,000/year income for every family and no fortune over $5 million. Had 7.5 million supporters. Assassinated 1935.
The Supreme Court (constitutional/right-leaning): Struck down the NRA (1935) and AAA (1936) as unconstitutional — the federal government had exceeded its powers. FDR's court packing plan to add 6 new justices failed.
Republicans/American Liberty League (right-wing): Argued the New Deal was "socialism," damaged free enterprise, and raised taxes unfairly on the wealthy. Funded by big business, but FDR still won 61% of the vote in 1936 despite their opposition.
Quick Check: What was FDR's "court packing" plan, why did he propose it, and what happened to it?
FDR proposed adding one new Supreme Court justice for every existing justice over age 70, up to a maximum of six new appointments. His aim: create a pro-New Deal majority on the Court after it struck down the NRA (1935) and AAA (1936) as unconstitutional. Congress rejected the plan — even many Democrats saw it as an attack on the independence of the judiciary and a dangerous expansion of presidential power. FDR's authority was damaged by the failure. However, older justices retired over time and FDR was able to appoint more sympathetic replacements — achieving his goal by different means.