TheCaseAgainsttheNewDeal:HowWastheNewDeal

CriticizedfromtheRight?
CHQ:DidtheNewDealgotoofar?Notfarenough?

Although there were enough supporters of the New Deal to get Franklin Roosevelt
re-elected three times, not everyone agreed that FDR had the best solution to
the Depression. Many of FDRs critics came from the Republican Party and
business sector. They had some allies in the nations newspapers, where many
political cartoonists joined those who criticized the president. Many of FDRs
critics had the rights of private property, and it would make supported FDR
early in his presidency, but they concluded that the president had expanded the
role of the federal government too much. They argued that the New Deal would
have negative and lasting effects on the economy, government, and social
valuesit would ruin American capitalism, change beliefs about individual
responsibility and the executive branch more powerful than other parts of the
government. In this lesson, you will examine cartoons and editorials that
criticized FDR and the New Deal and will think about the techniques that
cartoonists used to make their arguments. You should have your textbook as a
reference.

SOURCE A: Dust jacket of The Roosevelt Red Record and its

Background (1936), by Elizabeth Dilling.

1. Who are the figures surrounding

Roosevelt in this pamphlet? What
country do many of them come from
(you may not recognize all of the
names)?
Lenin, socialist leaders, Stalin,
Russian,

2. What do you notice about

Roosevelts facial expression? What
suggestion does this make about
Roosevelt as a person?
 He looks shady and none trustworthy .
SOURCE B: More New Deal Co-operation, published in the
Providence Journal (March 24, 1933)

1. Describe the
action that is
occurring in this
cartoon and explain
the caption. Be sure
to pay attention to
both visual and
verbal details.
Farmers are taking
over business world

2. What is the
cartoon saying about
FDRs agricultural
policies?
They were made to
favor farmers and
hurt big business
SOURCE C: Cartoon from the National Republican Council

1. Describe the action

that is occurring in this
cartoon. Be sure to pay
attention to visual details.
He is
using burning the
constitution to light his
cigarette

2. What is the origin of this source, and what does this tell
you about its message? The source is from National
Republican Council which means Right side and see him as a
tyrant. Doesnt follow

3. What is the cartoon saying about FDRs administration?

That his acts are unconstitutional, imposing on their rights
SOURCE D: Cartoon from the National Republican Council

1. Describe the action that is occurring in this cartoon and

explain the caption. Be sure to pay attention to both
visual and verbal details.
FDR is talking to Russia
 2. Who is the figure aside Roosevelt on the donkey? Why is she
carrying a flag with the hammer and sickle, which was a
symbol of the Soviet Union?

SOURCE E: Jonah, 1938! published in the Mansfield, Ohio News

Journal (March 9, 1938)
 1. Describe the action that is occurring in this cartoon and
explain the caption. Be sure to pay attention to both
visual and verbal details. Private companies are being
taken over by the Govt

2. What is the TVA? Consult your book or your notes.

Builds dams for power

3. What groups might oppose the TVA? How are they represented
in the cartoon? Private companies need water for power.

4. The cartoon refers to a famous story in the Bible in which

a man named Jonah is swallowed by a whale. Keeping this in
mind, what is happening (or about to happen) in the
cartoon? A private company. is about to be eaten by the
Govt

Discussion Question:

A major criticism of the New Deal from conservatives was that as

the role of government grew, people would have less freedom and
fewer individual rights. Do you think Americans lost any
freedoms or rights because of the New Deal? Did Americans gain
any rights? Farmers gained new rights but at the same time
businesses lost a lot of control .