Question

Who would have most likely opposed President Franklin Roosevelt's policies during the Great Depression?

Answer 1

Opponents of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal were primarily conservatives, business interests skeptical about government intervention and higher taxes, segments of the Left who saw the policies as insufficient or too favorable to big business, and far-left groups wishing for a broader systemic change.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt's policies, known collectively as the New Deal, received opposition from various groups. Those on the political Right, including conservatives and business interests, argued that Roosevelt's policies deterred natural economic recovery and discouraged investment due to higher taxes and support for unions. Meanwhile, some members of the mainstream Left critiqued the New Deal for favoring large businesses over small ones and the working poor. Furthermore, far-left groups such as the American Communist Party desired the complete collapse of the capitalist system in favor of a government-operated planned economy.

While the wealthy upper class feared that Roosevelt's policies, like the Revenue Act of 1935 with its significant tax hikes, indicated a tilt towards radical wealth redistribution, the middle class and unemployed found the New Deal's relief programs insufficient. Dissidents like Huey Long and Father Coughlin also offered differing critiques, suggesting that the New Deal was a patch to save capitalism or introducing socialism, depending on their perspective. Despite the criticisms and the complex economic debates, Roosevelt's flexibility in economic policy and his optimism contrasted with the hopelessness of the previous administration and helped him secure broad electoral support.

Answer 2

Advocates of unregulated markets and balanced budgets

Step-by-step explanation:

It is believed that "Advocates of unregulated markets and balanced budgets" would most likely oppose President Franklin Roosevelt's policies during the Great Depression.

This is because the policies of President Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression, which is known as the New Deal is based on public work projects, financial and socio-economic improvement that seeks to assist the banking industry, farmers, the unemployed, youth, and the elderly.

These policies are however against the tenets of "Advocates of unregulated markets and balanced budgets" who believed that such policies would affect the business interests of the Americans and as well give the government more control than necessary.