Final answer:
The American Liberty League opposed the New Deal primarily due to concerns over excessive government intervention in business, a shift towards fascism and socialism, and irresponsible deficit spending. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court initially struck down key New Deal measures, although the Court's stance later changed to support other New Deal legislation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why the American Liberty League Opposed the New Deal
The American Liberty League, comprising primarily of conservative Democrats, opposed President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal for several reasons.
First and foremost, the League argued that several of the New Deal programs, like the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) and the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), represented a departure from traditional American values. They feared that these initiatives took the country toward fascism and socialism, undermining the nature of American democracy.
In addition, there was widespread concern among members of the League and other conservatives about the perceived excessive government intervention in business affairs.
They contended that this was leading to unnecessary and harmful federal overreach. The League was not alone in its opposition; the National Association of Manufacturers was another group that resisted elements of the New Deal, particularly those that promoted collective bargaining and improved labor protection legislation.
Furthermore, the Liberty League and other conservative critics believed that the New Deal's deficit spending approach was irresponsible, as it significantly increased the national debt. Libertarians, another opposing group, viewed government bailouts for large banks during the crisis as unfair when compared to the millions of families facing bankruptcy without such support.
This sentiment also fueled populist anger against the New Deal. Critics on the left, however, felt the New Deal did not go far enough to assist the poor and argued it instead granted too much power to businesses without adequately challenging the capitalist system.
The criticism eventually culminated in a significant challenge when the U.S. Supreme Court declared several key parts of the New Deal unconstitutional, citing an overreach of federal authority. This judicial action dealt a blow to Roosevelt's New Deal, although the president's court-packing plan and subsequent shifts in the Supreme Court's stance resulted in greater support for other New Deal legislation.