Father Coughlin’s campaign

Question 1

Who was he

Answer 1

• Catholic priest in Detroit.
• Had 30m regular listeners in his weekly radio programme
• The Golden Hour of the Little Flower.

Question 2

Radical criticism of the New Deal

Answer 2

• At first a supporter
• explanation for the great depression
• caused by wall street finances + international bankers
• thought communists responsible for new deal policies

Question 3

Alternative to new deal

Answer 3

National union for social justice 1934)

• currency + bank reforms
• nationalism of parts of US economy
• Fairer tax policy
• teamed with Townsend + smith
• national union party
• promoted Lemke as candidate for president
• lost horrendously

Question 4

Failure

Answer 4

Failure mostly due to second new deal 1935)

• Roosevelt put reforms that Coughlin campaigned for
• –>made it hard to criticise

Popularity decreased)
-attacked well liked president
-anti-Semitic claims (blamed Jews for depression)
-NUP lost election +Coughlin influence declined
(national union party)