Solo Analysis Document 22.4 Retire or Move Over, 1937

SOLO ANALYSIS

Retire or Move Over, 1937

In his first term, President Roosevelt secured legislation to implement his New Deal; however, by 1937 the Supreme Court had overturned several key pieces of New Deal legislation, arguing that Congress had exceeded its constitutional authority. As the Social Security Act and the National Labor Relations Act came up for review before the Court, Roosevelt tried to dilute the influence of the Court’s conservative majority. Following his landslide reelection in 1936, he asked Congress to enlarge the Court so that he could appoint justices more favorable to his liberal agenda. This cartoon reacts to Roosevelt’s court-packing plan.

Document 22.4

image
Granger, NYC

Interpret the Evidence

  1. How does the cartoonist portray Roosevelt? How does it portray the Supreme Court?

  2. How does this cartoon appeal to the fears of the American public during the late 1930s?

Put It in Context

How important was the Supreme Court in shaping the outcome of the New Deal?

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