why was the Roosevelt upset when the supreme court started ruling parts of the new deal unconstitutional?

Answer 1

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was upset when the Supreme Court started ruling parts of the New Deal unconstitutional because it threatened to derail his efforts to tackle the Great Depression and implement his economic recovery plan.

The New Deal was a comprehensive series of programs and policies implemented by President Roosevelt in response to the economic crisis of the 1930s. It aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform through various initiatives such as the creation of jobs, public works projects, regulations on banks and businesses, and social welfare programs.

However, the Supreme Court began to challenge the constitutionality of some of these programs. From 1935 to 1937, the Court struck down several key pieces of New Deal legislation, including the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) and the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), on the grounds that they exceeded the federal government's power and violated the separation of powers.

FDR was upset because these rulings threatened to undermine his efforts to address the economic crisis effectively. He believed that the New Deal was necessary to provide relief to those in need, stimulate economic recovery, and prevent future depressions. The Supreme Court's interventions were seen as blocking his ability to enact measures that he believed were essential for the wellbeing of the nation.

Consequently, Roosevelt proposed a court-packing plan in 1937, which aimed to expand the Supreme Court to up to 15 justices. This plan would have allowed Roosevelt to appoint additional justices who were sympathetic to the New Deal, thus changing the balance of power within the Court and potentially enabling more favorable rulings. Although the court-packing plan was ultimately unsuccessful, it put pressure on the Supreme Court, which resulted in a shift in its approach towards New Deal legislation.

In 1937, a key Supreme Court justice, Owen Roberts, began voting in favor of New Deal policies, causing a shift in the Court's decisions. This became known as the "switch in time that saved nine," as it prevented further conflict between the Executive and Judicial branches of government.

Overall, the Supreme Court's ruling parts of the New Deal unconstitutional led to President Roosevelt's frustration and concern that his efforts to combat the Great Depression were being impeded. Nonetheless, these events ultimately prompted a change in the Court's stance and allowed the New Deal to continue and make a significant impact on American society.