By late 1934, public confidence in the New Deal was waning because the depression was not over. Unemployment, though it declined since early 1933, was still high has it had been when FDR was elected. The National Recovery Administration (NRA) was in shambles since the idea of relying on voluntary cooperation between competing businesses and labor unions had collapsed in the realization that individual self - interest and greed were prime objectives. Strikes and labor walkouts were quite apparent during this time. Minorities, senior citizens, working class, disadvantaged persons in America were key recipients of New Deal legislation.

Rather bankers, lawyers, corporate managers, and docters were overwhelming against the New Deal and its proposed legislation. They formed the American Liberty League, which spent millions to discredit the New Deal and FDR himself. However, FDR secured a second term with a new political alignment of Catholics, Jews, Italians, Irish, African Americans, and laborers in the Democractic Party.

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Reply 5

AliciaJ703

After FDR died on April 12, 1945, his successor, Harry Truman continued New Deal policies although it was in conjunction with WWII. As a result, farm prices rose nearly 30 percent by the end of 1945. In early 1946, 3 percent of the labor force was on strike. The New Deal benefited minorities but not in the context of ending racial segregation during the FDR Administration. Although, Truman did desegregate the armed forces and appointed the first black judge to the federal bench - Judge William H. Hastie. The victory of JFK in 1960 did bring the issue of race back into the political forefront. Overall, the New Deal is the period of American history from the election of FDR to JFK. Lyndon B. Johnson is credited with the "Great Society."

All of this information is sourced from the book, "The Great Game of Politics: Why We Elect Whom We Elect," by Dick Stoken. Ch. 7, The New Deal - Great Society pages 156 - 190.

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