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The '''New Deal Coalition''' is a political coalition, which was created by [[Franklin Roosevelt]] in the 1930s. It included Democratic party organizations, big city machines, labor unions, minorities (racial, ethnic and religious, especially Blacks, Catholics and Jews), liberal farm groups, intellectuals, the Mountain West, and the white South. It was opposed by the [[Conservative Coalition]] of northern Republicans and southern Democrats.  The New Deal Coalition dominated presidential elections from 1932 through 1964 (even including the two that Republican Eisenhower won). It lost control of Congressin 1937, but in a "last hurrah" controlled Congress and the White House during the "[[Great Society]]" of Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson. The coalition fell apart after 1966 but it remains the model that Democratic party activists seek to replicate.

The '''New Deal Coalition''' is a political coalition, which was created by [[Franklin Roosevelt]] in the 1930s. It included Democratic party organizations, big city machines, labor unions, minorities (racial, ethnic and religious, especially Blacks, Catholics and Jews), liberal farm groups, intellectuals, the Mountain West, and the white South. It was opposed by the [[Conservative Coalition]] of northern Republicans and southern Democrats.  The New Deal Coalition dominated presidential elections from 1932 through 1964 (even including the two that Republican Eisenhower won). It lost control of Congress in 1937, but in a "last hurrah" controlled Congress and the White House during the "[[Great Society]]" of Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson. The coalition fell apart after 1966 but it remains the model that Democratic party activists seek to replicate.

The coalition brought together liberal interest groups and voting blocks that supported the [[New Deal]] and voted for [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] presidential candidates from 1932 until approximately 1966, which made the Democratic Party the majority party during the [[Fifth Party System]].  ==Roosevelt's Realignment==

The coalition brought together liberal interest groups and voting blocks that supported the [[New Deal]] and voted for [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] presidential candidates from 1932 until approximately 1966, which made the Democratic Party the majority party during the [[Fifth Party System]].   

 

==Roosevelt's Realignment==

The 1932 election brought about a major realignment in political party affiliation, and is widely considered to be a [[realigning election]] that created the [[Fifth Party System]]. Franklin Delano Roosevelt set up  his [[New Deal]] and forged a coalition of Big City machines, labor unions, liberals, farmers, ethnic and racial minorities (especially Catholics, Jews and African Americans), and Southern whites.  These disparate voting blocs together formed a majority of voters and handed the Democratic Party seven victories out of nine presidential elections (1932-36-40-48, 1960, 1964), as well as control of both houses of Congress during all but 4 years 1932-1980 (Republicans won in 1946 and 1952).  Starting in the 1930s, the term "liberal" was used in U.S. politics to indicate supporters of the coalition, while "conservative" denoted its opponents.  The coalition was never formally organized, and the constituent members often disagreed.

The 1932 election brought about a major realignment in political party affiliation, and is widely considered to be a [[realigning election]] that created the [[Fifth Party System]]. Franklin Delano Roosevelt set up  his [[New Deal]] and forged a coalition of Big City machines, labor unions, liberals, farmers, ethnic and racial minorities (especially Catholics, Jews and African Americans), and Southern whites.  These disparate voting blocs together formed a majority of voters and handed the Democratic Party seven victories out of nine presidential elections (1932-36-40-48, 1960, 1964), as well as control of both houses of Congress during all but 4 years 1932-1980 (Republicans won in 1946 and 1952).  Starting in the 1930s, the term "liberal" was used in U.S. politics to indicate supporters of the coalition, while "conservative" denoted its opponents.  The coalition was never formally organized, and the constituent members often disagreed.

===Issues: Equality as core New Deal value===

===Issues: Equality as core New Deal value===

World War Two had a surprisingly small impact on voting patterns. There was no great realignment, except perhaps among [[German Americans]], who moved toward the GOP. The war, however, promoted both the ideology and actuality of shared sacrifice and equality. Heavy income taxes, rationing of basic foods, clothing, and gasoline, and the shutoff of new housing and cars, together with the end of unemployment and very high paying war jobs for the unskilled and semiskilled, made for a radical shift toward economic equality. The index of income inequality shifted dramatically (the richest 5% received 34% of all disposable (after tax) income in 1929, 25% in 1940, and 16% in 1944. <ref> U.S. Bureau of the cenuss, ''Historical Statistics of the United States'' (1976) series G342 p 302; D'Ann Campbell, Women at War With America (1984).</ref>

World War Two had a surprisingly small impact on voting patterns. There was no great realignment, except perhaps among [[German Americans]], who moved toward the GOP. The war, however, promoted both the ideology and actuality of shared sacrifice and equality. Heavy income taxes, rationing of basic foods, clothing, and gasoline, and the shutoff of new housing and cars, together with the end of unemployment and very high paying war jobs for the unskilled and semiskilled, made for a radical shift toward economic equality. The index of income inequality shifted dramatically (the richest 5% received 34% of all disposable (after tax) income in 1929, 25% in 1940, and 16% in 1944. <ref> U.S. Bureau of the Census, ''Historical Statistics of the United States'' (1976) series G342 p 302; D'Ann Campbell, Women at War With America (1984).</ref>

New Dealers, shut out of the war agencies, controlled the price control agency (The OPA), and government propaganda. The wartime propaganda campaigns stressing shared sacrifice and the equality of all soldiers reflected a new consensus of equalitarian thinking. The combination obviously benefited the New Deal, and especially the labor union component of the coalition.<ref> Leff (1991) </ref> The unions seized their opportunity by attacking business for racking off excess profits, and by demanding higher wages in a nationwide wave of strikes in 1946.

New Dealers, shut out of the war agencies, controlled the price control agency (The OPA), and government propaganda. The wartime propaganda campaigns stressing shared sacrifice and the equality of all soldiers reflected a new consensus of egalitarian thinking. The combination obviously benefited the New Deal, and especially the labor union component of the coalition.<ref> Leff (1991) </ref> The unions seized their opportunity by attacking business for racking off excess profits, and by demanding higher wages in a nationwide wave of strikes in 1946.

Public opinion agreed (in July 1945) with the equalitarian argument about fat cats: 61% though big business owners and executives were paid too much, and 35% added doctors and lawyers. However, only 22% thought factory workers were paid too little, while 33% thought office workers were underpaid. Furthermore, a majority as early as summer 1942 identified "labor leaders" as "taking unfair advantage of the war to get money or power for themselves."<ref> OPOR 52, July 1945, from original cards; OPOR March 1942, in Hadley Cantril and Mildred Strunk, ''Public Opinion'' (1951) p. 1176, see also 396-7.</ref>   

Public opinion agreed (in July 1945) with the egalitarian argument about fat cats: 61% though big business owners and executives were paid too much, and 35% added doctors and lawyers. However, only 22% thought factory workers were paid too little, while 33% thought office workers were underpaid. Furthermore, a majority as early as summer 1942 identified "labor leaders" as "taking unfair advantage of the war to get money or power for themselves."<ref> OPOR 52, July 1945, from original cards; OPOR March 1942, in Hadley Cantril and Mildred Strunk, ''Public Opinion'' (1951) p. 1176, see also 396-7.</ref>   

After the war, the unions retained recognition and made some wage gains at the cost of massive defeat of their candidates in 1946, and the passage of the hated [[Taft-Hartley Act]] in 1947. By 1946 the Republicans confronted the equality issue head-on in attacking rationing, especially the price controls on meat imposed by Office of Price Administration as an equalitarian device. The issue was a winner for the conservatives, with only 22% of the people supporting the government on this issue.<ref>See Gallup polls in Cantril and Strunk, Public Opinion, 437, 734 </ref>

After the war, the unions retained recognition and made some wage gains at the cost of massive defeat of their candidates in 1946, and the passage of the hated [[Taft-Hartley Act]] in 1947. By 1946 the Republicans confronted the equality issue head-on in attacking rationing, especially the price controls on meat imposed by Office of Price Administration as an egalitarian device. The issue was a winner for the conservatives, with only 22% of the people supporting the government on this issue.<ref>See Gallup polls in Cantril and Strunk, Public Opinion, 437, 734 </ref>

===Party loyalty===

===Party loyalty===