A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What criticism did Francis Townsend have towards the New Deal?

1. It favored wealthy businessmen.

2. It did not provide adequate pensions for senior citizens.

3. It was detrimental to farmers.

4. It failed to create jobs for the youth.

The correct answer is: It did not provide adequate pensions for senior citizens.

Francis Townsend was a prominent critic of the New Deal, particularly focusing on the inadequacy of support for senior citizens. He believed that the New Deal did not provide sufficient pensions to help elderly Americans who were suffering during the Great Depression. Townsend proposed the Townsend Plan, which advocated for a government-funded pension that would give every senior citizen a monthly stipend, thus alleviating poverty among the elderly and stimulating the economy as they would spend the money. This emphasis on improving the lives of senior citizens reflects Townsend's core criticism of the New Deal's failure to address their needs adequately. While other aspects of the New Deal, such as its effects on businesses or job creation for youth, may have been part of broader debates, Townsend's focus was specifically on the welfare of senior citizens, making the criticism regarding pensions particularly salient.