Reference

The pivotal factors in the 1938 United States elections were influenced by several key dynamics, occurring during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's second term. Here are some of the main factors:

1. Roosevelt Recession: A significant economic downturn in 1937–38, often called the "Roosevelt Recession," led to public dissatisfaction with the New Deal policies which had previously been credited with reviving the economy after the Great Depression.

2. Court-Packing Controversy: Roosevelt's attempt to reorganize the Supreme Court, famously known as the "court-packing" plan, faced strong opposition. This effort to add more justices was perceived as an overreach of executive power and hurt his popularity.

3. Conservative Gains: The election marked a shift towards conservatism. Roosevelt aimed to promote a realignment within the Democratic Party by supporting more liberal candidates over conservative Democrats in the primaries. However, his efforts largely failed, and conservatives gained strength in Congress.

Overall, the 1938 elections led to significant losses for the Democratic Party, with the Republicans gaining 72 seats in the House of Representatives and eight in the Senate, although the Democrats maintained control of Congress.

For additional information, you can visit the sources:

• Wikipedia
• Encyclopedia.com
• Histclo.com

Here are some relevant images from the 1938 elections: