This deep dive covers Opposition from BOTH Sides within Opposition to the New Deal for GCSE History. Revise Opposition to the New Deal in America 1920-1973 for GCSE History with 12 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 2 of 12 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
🧠 Opposition from BOTH Sides
Crucially, FDR faced criticism from people who thought he did TOO MUCH and people who thought he did TOO LITTLE:
| Right-wing Critics (Too much government!) | Left-wing Critics (Not enough help!) |
|---|---|
|
Republicans & Big Business: • New Deal was "socialism" • Too much government interference • Taxes too high on wealthy • Hurting free enterprise Supreme Court: • Declared NRA unconstitutional (1935) • Declared AAA unconstitutional (1936) • FDR's "court packing" plan failed |
Huey Long ("Share Our Wealth"): • Take from rich, give to poor • $5,000 for every family • Popular in South until assassinated 1935 Father Coughlin (radio priest): • New Deal helped bankers not workers • Increasingly extreme views Dr Townsend: • $200/month pension for over-60s • Influenced Social Security Act |
Practice questions for Opposition to the New Deal
In which year did the Supreme Court declare the NRA (National Recovery Administration) unconstitutional?
What happened to Huey Long in 1935?
Quick recall flashcards
Who was Father Coughlin?
Radio priest with 40 million listeners who initially supported then violently attacked FDR and New Deal as "communist"
Who was Huey Long?
Louisiana politician — "Share Our Wealth" — take from rich, $5,000 per family. Assassinated 1935.