Which statement best describes political opposition to the New Deal?

• A. The American Liberty League was set up in 1934 to preserve freedom and was backed by wealthy businessmen.
• B. The opposition was limited to a few fringe groups that had no influence in national politics.
• C. The New Deal faced no organized opposition from major political parties.
• D. The opposition included Republicans who argued the New Deal expanded federal power beyond constitutional limits.

Answer: (D)

The key idea being tested is how political opponents framed their critique of the New Deal. The strongest and most enduring argument from those who opposed it came from Republicans who contended that the New Deal pushed the federal government beyond its constitutional authority, expanding federal power at the expense of states and private enterprise. This view framed opposition as a challenge to overreach and warned that the expansion of federal power threatened constitutional limits and individual freedoms. While there were other critics—such as wealthy business leaders who formed groups to defend free enterprise—the central, recurring political challenge to the New Deal was that it extended federal authority too far, making this the best description of opposition.