Share Our Wealth

Introduction

As governor from 1928 to 1932, Long channeled public money into roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and the state university at Baton Rouge. In contrast to his staunchly conservative predecessors, Long was a remarkably progressive leader. By almost any other standard, however, his record was one of modest, conventional reform.

Discussion

Who wrote the document?

The document has been written by Huey Pierce Long. When he began his law practice in Baton Rouge won fame as a champion of poor farmers and workers, forming a network of contacts which later helped him to enter local politics (Long, Pp. 56).

Was the author a political or private individual? Was he educated or not?

Long, Huey Pierce (30 Aug. 1893-10 Sept. 1935), was the governor of Louisiana and U.S. senator. He attended high school, and briefly studied law at the University of Oklahoma and Tulane University. He received no degree, but he equipped himself to pass the Louisiana bar exam. By the summer of 1915, he was practicing law in his home town of Winnfield and starting a family with his wife of two years, Rose McConnell.

Who was the intended audience?

The audience was the American people who heard the speech through radio. Furthermore, the audience members also included political workers from the opposing parties and those associated with fiscal policies. Huey Long's speech is criticized by many people on the basis of gaining publicity.

What is the story line? What is going on in the document?

The storyline in this document entails the following:

Accumulation of personal wealth which is 100 to 300 times more than the average wealth of a family. This will create limitation of personal wealth to between $1.5 million and $5 million. Those people who have net worth of more than $1 million will have to pay annual capital tax.

Each family will get home allowance which will be equal to one-third of the average family wealth of the nation.

Each family will earn an annual income of minimum $2,000 to $2,500, or not less than one-third of the average annual family income in the United States.

People will not be able to earn an annual income of more than 100 to 300 times the average annual family income. In order to ensure this, such people will have to pay income taxes.

Every person will get an old-age pension.

Why was the document written?

Early in 1934, Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long made known his ideas ...