Changes

Roosevelt's political standing was also damaged by a sharp economic downturn in 1937 and 1938. Unemployment rose from 5 million Americans to more than 12 million, manufacturing, consumer spending, and personal income all declined. Critics dubbed it the "Roosevelt Recession" and seemed to vindicate Republican attacks on the New Deal. According to an August 1938 Gallup poll, 66% of Americans wanted FDR to take more [[conservative]] policies. <ref>http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/busch/06/1938.html</ref>

Roosevelt's political standing was also damaged by a sharp economic downturn in 1937 and 1938. Unemployment rose from 5 million Americans to more than 12 million, manufacturing, consumer spending, and personal income all declined. Critics dubbed it the "Roosevelt Recession" and seemed to vindicate Republican attacks on the New Deal. According to an August 1938 Gallup poll, 66% of Americans wanted FDR to take more [[conservative]] policies. <ref>http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/busch/06/1938.html</ref>

During the election, Roosevelt launched a campaign to "purge" [[conservative Democrat]]s in primaries. With a few exceptions, almost all of his endorsed candidates lost. Republicans made significant gains, and won the governorships of [[Pennsylvania]], [[Ohio]], and [[Michigan]]. Although Democrats retained a clear majority in the House and Senate, most of the incumbent Democrats that were defeated were pro-New Deal Democrats.  Conservatives were now the majority in Congress and Republicans were large enough to be an effective opposition.

During the election, Roosevelt launched a campaign to "purge" [[conservative Democrat]]s in primaries. With a few exceptions, almost all of his endorsed candidates lost. Republicans made significant gains, and won the governorships of [[Pennsylvania]], [[Ohio]], and [[Michigan]]. Although Democrats retained a clear majority in the House and Senate, most of the incumbent Democrats that were defeated were pro-New Deal Democrats.  Conservatives were now the majority in Congress and Republicans were large enough to be an effective opposition. One notable freshman was future Senate Majority Leader [[Robert Taft]] of [[Ohio]].

The 76th Congress passed the [[Hatch Act]] (restricts the political activities of federal employees) and the [[Smith Act]] (cracks down on internal subversion) over Roosevelt's objection.

The 76th Congress passed the [[Hatch Act]] (restricts the political activities of federal employees) and the [[Smith Act]] (cracks down on internal subversion) over Roosevelt's objection.