The New Deal, implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, faced criticisms from both the political left and right. On the left, some progressives argued that the New Deal did not go far enough in fundamentally transforming the economic system. They believed that it primarily served the interests of big business and failed to adequately address income inequality and worker empowerment.

For example, the Socialist Party criticized the New Deal for not nationalizing key industries and banks. They believed that only nationalization would truly address the underlying problems of capitalism. Additionally, some unions, such as the Congress of Industrial Organizations, called for stronger labor protections and collective bargaining rights, arguing that the New Deal legislation fell short in fully empowering workers.