To what extent was opposition to the New Deal effective?
Level
AS Level
Year Examined
2023
Topic
The League of Nations and international relations in the 1920s
👑Complete Model Essay
To what extent was opposition to the New Deal effective?
How to Write an A-Level History Essay on New Deal Opposition
This guide will help you structure an effective essay addressing the question: To what extent was opposition to the New Deal effective?
1. Introduction
Start by setting the historical context – briefly outline the New Deal and its aims. Then, present your argument directly. Did opposition significantly impact the New Deal, or was it largely ineffective? Your introduction acts as a roadmap, so clearly state your overall stance.
2. Examining Effective Opposition
This section should present evidence supporting the idea that opposition did influence the New Deal. Consider these points:
The Second New Deal: Did pressure from the left, such as Huey Long, Father Coughlin, and the Townsend movement, push Roosevelt towards more radical policies in the Second New Deal? Discuss examples like Social Security and the Wealth Tax proposal.
Supreme Court Challenges: Analyze the Supreme Court's overturning of key New Deal legislation (NRA, AAA). Explain the Court's composition, the "Four Horsemen," and the impact of decisions rooted in limiting federal intervention. Did these rulings force Roosevelt to adapt his strategies or compromise on his goals?
3. Analyzing Weaknesses of the Opposition
Here, you'll present the counter-argument, demonstrating why opposition might have been less impactful than it seemed:
Divided Republicans: Discuss the Republican Party as the main political opposition. Highlight their internal divisions (Eastern conservatives vs. Western progressives) and how this hindered their ability to present a united front against the New Deal.
Electoral Impact: Analyze the limited success of figures like Huey Long and Father Coughlin in translating their popularity into concrete political change. Mention the Union Party's poor showing in the 1936 election. Did their movements ultimately lack the organization and widespread support to force major shifts in New Deal policy?
4. Conclusion
Summarize your main points without introducing new information. Reiterate your overall judgment about the effectiveness of New Deal opposition. Was it a decisive factor in shaping the New Deal's trajectory, or were its limitations too great to have a substantial impact?
Tips for Success
Balance and Nuance: Avoid making one-sided arguments. Acknowledge strengths and weaknesses on both sides of the issue.
Specific Evidence: Support all claims with concrete historical details. Use names, dates, legislation titles, and specific examples from the period.
Clear Analysis: Don't just list facts. Explain how the evidence supports your argument. Analyze the motivations and actions of different groups and individuals.
Historiography: If relevant, briefly mention the views of historians who have written about this topic. Do they tend to emphasize the effectiveness of the opposition, or its limitations?
By following this structure and incorporating relevant evidence, you can craft a well-argued and insightful A-Level history essay on the effectiveness of opposition to the New Deal.
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Introduction
This essay will analyze the extent to which opposition to the New Deal was effective in influencing FDR's policies and outcomes. It will explore both the effectiveness and limitations of different opposition groups, including the Republican Party, the Supreme Court, and populist movements like those led by Huey Long and Father Coughlin.
Effectiveness of Opposition
The Second New Deal and Shift in Policy
The opposition from the left, particularly from Huey Long, Father Coughlin, and the Townsend movement, played a significant role in shaping the Second New Deal. These groups criticized the New Deal's initial efforts as insufficient and demanded more radical solutions. This pressure led FDR to adopt more progressive policies, including Social Security and the Wealth Tax, in an attempt to appease them and maintain his political base.
Supreme Court Opposition
The Supreme Court, particularly the conservative "Four Horsemen," posed a direct challenge to the New Deal by striking down key legislation, like the NRA and AAA. This opposition forced FDR to consider radical solutions like court-packing, demonstrating the Supreme Court's influence on New Deal policies.
Weaknesses of Opposition
Republican Party Division and Lack of Coherence
The Republican Party, though the primary political opposition, faced internal divisions and limited electoral power. Their inability to present a unified front and lack of clear alternatives to the New Deal hindered their effectiveness in influencing FDR's policies.
Populist Movements: Limited Political Impact
While Huey Long and Father Coughlin enjoyed significant public support and used radio to reach a broad audience, their movements ultimately failed to translate into effective electoral opposition. Their lack of a well-organized political structure and their increasingly divergent ideologies limited their ability to challenge FDR's authority.
Conclusion
Despite a number of vocal critics, the opposition to the New Deal had limited effectiveness in fundamentally altering FDR's policies and outcomes. While the threat of left-wing opposition prompted FDR to adopt more progressive measures in the Second New Deal, and the Supreme Court's rulings posed significant legal obstacles, the Republican Party's internal divisions and the lack of a cohesive, organized alternative to the New Deal ultimately limited the impact of the opposition. Ultimately, the New Deal's legacy was shaped more by FDR's own vision and political acumen than by the influence of its opponents.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
To what extent was opposition to the New Deal effective?
Indicative content Possible discussion of effective New Deal opposition might consider the Second New Deal and how it is possible to argue that the opposition which Roosevelt faced from the left after 1933 did change his policies as he moved towards the Second New Deal and re-election. Speaking in 1935, Roosevelt himself said, ‘I am fighting Communism, Huey Longism, Coughlinism and Townsendism’. In 1936, these three movements came together to form the Union Party to contest the presidential election. It gained less than one million votes.
It can be argued, however, that the threat posed by these groups to Roosevelt was such that he adapted his policies to address some of their demands, the clearest example being his plans for a Wealth Tax. Those plans did not come to much after the election, however. Some commentators go further, arguing that most of the Second New Deal was a response to these mass movements, for example, Social Security was first proposed by Francis Townsend. Furthermore, there was opposition from the Supreme Court, for example the rejection of crucial New Deal legislation, in particular the NRA and the AAA in 1935–36. The composition of the Supreme Court in 1933–36 with four conservatives – ‘the Four Horsemen’ – plus a swing judge being opposed to great federal state intervention. The tradition, based on the 1905 Lochner judgement, that the Supreme Court would always rule against laws and policies which limited individual economic freedom.
Weaknesses of New Deal opposition
Possible discussion of weaknesses of New Deal opposition might consider how the political opponent of the New Deal which would have the greatest effect on FDR’s reforms was the Republican Party in Congress. Not only were the numbers against the Republicans being effective but the party itself was divided between Eastern conservatives and Western progressives. They took quite different attitudes towards New Deal reforms. In addition, the Republicans were the minority party for the first time in a long time – this took a lot of getting used to. They were also seen as the party in charge when the Great Depression occurred and so blamed by many for the situation the country found itself in. The Republican approach seemed no answer to a depression of unprecedented depth.
Discussion may also focus on opposition outside of Republican opposition. The two best known are Huey Long and Charles Coughlin. Huey Long was a Democratic Senator, Charles Coughlin a Roman Catholic priest. Both, after initially supporting the New Deal, turned against it for being too cautious and ineffective. Both used the new medium of the radio to gain support. Before his assassination, Huey Long became more left-wing. Father Coughlin’s views moved more towards the right. Both gained a great public response, but it never turned into organised and effective electoral opposition to a President and a party which gained more support in 1936. Accept any other valid responses.