Question

Using two brief, well-written paragraphs, Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the New Deal. Why did some Americans oppose the New Deal? Use examples from the essays by David Kennedy or Matthew Avery Sutton and from one document in Major Problems. You may use brief quotes from the authors but be sure to assess their arguments in your own words.

FDR and the new deal

Answer 1

The program called the New Deal, aimed to provide economic and financial reforms for the recovery of US economy from pangs of the Great Depression. The strengths of the New Deal were as follows :-

i) relief schemes were carried out for the jobless and needy like by providing them the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter.

ii) more working and new job opportunities were created during the time

iii) agricultural, industrial and infrastructural reforms were made by infusing more capital and resources

iv) anti-social movements like communism were supressed easily

The weaknesses of the New Deal were as follows :-

i) rate of unemployment couldn't be controlled effectively

ii) exports and trading was not upto the mark

iii) was not favourable for the blacks...as it was a kind of biased and racist program

iv) failed to win people's support and other legal battles

The American Liberty League was formed in 1934 to oppose the New Deal program and basically comprised a group of rich and elite businessmen. As the program introduced higher taxes for the rich, the higher class felt betrayed and hence formed the league.