"An Act to provide for the general welfare by establishing a system of Federal old-age benefits, and by enabling the several States to make more adequate provision for aged persons, blind persons, dependent and crippled children, maternal and child welfare, public health, and the administration of their unemployment compensation laws; to establish a Social Security Board; to raise revenue; and for other purposes." — Social Security Act (1935), Preamble
Pressure for a more generous old-age program came in part from
- A
the American Liberty League
- Bcheck_circle
Dr. Francis Townsend's plan for $200 monthly pensions to those over 60
- C
the Ku Klux Klan revival
- D
Father Coughlin's call for the gold standard
Explanation
The Townsend Plan attracted millions of supporters and helped pressure FDR to include old-age benefits; Coughlin and the Liberty League largely opposed the New Deal.