New Deal Dbq

The New Deal was a domestic policy implemented by the newly elected Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1933, in response to the Great Depression in America. The main aims of the New Deal were; to give relief towards the unemployed, recover and rebuild the US economy and reform to create a more fair and just society. The New Deal dealt with problems in the US while influencing foreign policy. Being controversial in parts, there was opposition to some of its policies. This essay discusses its impact politically, economically, socially and on foreign policy to see if the New Deal was a turning point in American History.

President Roosevelt won the 1932 elections1 against President Hoover (Republican) because of his experience as Governor

Republicans were against many policies5, they believe in ‘Laissez-faire’ and thought the Government has too much control over wages, working conditions and production targets, like Soviet Russia. The New Deal was perceived as a communist approach, because of agencies like the NIRA (National Industry Recovery Act) and The Social Security Act. Roosevelt was even compared to Stalin, a dictator. The Supreme Court6 was a panel of nine judges, who were old, conservative and republican. Their job was to decide if any measure of the New Deal did not agree with the American Constitution so it could be denied. Since they were Republican, they had a natural resentment at the New Deal and found the NIRA and the AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Agency) unconstitutional. After his second election, Roosevelt made some bad, public decisions like trying to ‘pack the court’ by attempting to appoint six judges who would vote in his favour. Interestingly, the Supreme Court voted in favour of some policies of the New Deal like pensions in the Social Security Act. There was minor opposition from within the Democratic Party as well. In 1934, the American Liberty League was established7, supported by many wealthy businessmen and conservative Democrats like Alfred Smith and John Davis. Mostly from the South representing farming districts, they would have supported the AAA but not the Wagner Act, as it encouraged trade unions. After 1935, the

Many of the policies introduced were useful like the benefit scheme implemented by the Social Security Act. Benefits were introduced in the US because of the New Deal and still exist today, displaying how parts of the New Deal were helpful. However, the main reason it was not a turning point is due to the New Deal did not providing long-term prosperity. In fact, WW2 was the primary reason for prosperity. From 1942-1945, unemployment rates never rose above 5%, but after the New Deal started, unemployment rates were never below 15% (1933-1939)29. This was a major reason on why the New Deal was not a true turning point, though it did make the US more compassionate towards its own