In 1932, the United States was in the grip of the Great Depression, which had entered its third harsh winter. With one in four Americans unemployed, it was the highest unemployment rate in the nation’s history. Many people had lost their homes and life savings, and there was little hope that President Herbert Hoover could improve the situation. As a result, when the election came around, voters turned to Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic candidate, who promised a “New Deal” to help struggling Americans and revive the economy.
Roosevelt’s New Deal was a massive federal intervention that challenged the individualistic ideals many Americans held dear. However, given the dire circumstances, he began his presidency with strong public and political support. In his first hundred days in office, Roosevelt, with the help of his advisers, pushed over 15 bills through Congress and created numerous government agencies to assist farmers, workers, and businesses.
The first priority of the New Deal was to stabilize the banks. Over the previous three years, many Americans had withdrawn their savings, fearing that banks would lose their money in risky investments. To restore public confidence, FDR increased federal oversight of commercial banks and introduced bank insurance to ensure that deposited funds would always be safe.
Next, Roosevelt established the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), which assessed each state’s need for assistance and provided funds to help citizens afford essentials like groceries, rent, clothing, and coal. Meanwhile, the Agricultural Adjustment Administration supported farmers and educated them on better planting techniques. These measures provided food and shelter to thousands but didn’t fully address the New Deal’s biggest promise: reducing unemployment.
To tackle unemployment, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was created to employ over 250,000 young men in projects like tree planting, irrigation, and fire prevention. The CCC offered work camps that provided food, shelter, and education to these young men, who often had families in need of relief. Subsequent programs like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Tennessee Valley Authority focused on building roads, bridges, and hydroelectric dams. The WPA also funded art, writing, and theater programs. These initiatives cut civilian unemployment in half and were accompanied by labor acts that abolished child labor, granted unions the right to collective bargaining, and established the first national minimum wage. Benefits were also introduced to support those unable to work, with the Social Security Act creating an old-age pension system, unemployment insurance, disability benefits, and welfare assistance.
Despite these sweeping policies, the New Deal helped some groups more than others. Black Americans were hit hardest by the economic downturn, and the New Deal’s impact on Black communities varied widely. In northern cities like Chicago, Black citizens received a significant share of jobs, vocational training, and education, with New Deal programs teaching more than one million Black Americans to read. Northern Black communities also benefited from public housing, although it was heavily segregated. In the South, the results were less positive. Roosevelt relied on the support of Southern Democrats, who welcomed economic development but fought to maintain white supremacy. They ensured that new labor laws excluded domestic servants and agricultural workers, jobs held by many Black Americans. These politicians also undermined Eleanor Roosevelt’s efforts to push for a federal anti-lynching law. Consequently, the New Deal has often been called a “raw deal” for Black communities, and many modern inequities in housing, employment, and financial stability are partly due to New Deal programs prioritizing white Americans.
In many ways, the New Deal didn’t fully live up to its promises. Despite employing over 8 million Americans, unemployment never dropped below 14%. The U.S. economy wouldn’t fully recover until the country’s mobilization for World War II. However, this bold campaign of progressive policies empowered unions to start their own revolution. In the following decades, northern liberals, Black Americans, and other working minorities united to fight discriminatory hiring practices, reshaping the Democratic Party, challenging its leadership, and laying the groundwork for an emerging civil rights coalition.
Imagine you are a member of Congress during the 1930s. Prepare a short speech either supporting or opposing the New Deal. Consider the economic and social conditions of the time, and be ready to debate your classmates who may have opposing views. This will help you understand the diverse perspectives on the New Deal’s impact.
Choose one New Deal program, such as the Civilian Conservation Corps or the Social Security Act. Research its goals, implementation, and effects on American society. Create a presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting both the successes and limitations of the program.
Write a diary entry from the perspective of a young person living during the Great Depression. Describe how the New Deal programs have affected your life and your family’s situation. Use historical details to make your entry authentic and engaging.
Examine a map of the United States showing the distribution of New Deal projects. Identify patterns in where projects were implemented and discuss why certain areas might have received more attention. Consider factors like population density, economic need, and political influence.
Watch a documentary segment about the New Deal and its impact on American society. After viewing, participate in a class discussion about the key takeaways, focusing on how the New Deal addressed unemployment and economic recovery. Reflect on its long-term effects on modern America.
In 1932, the Great Depression entered its third winter. One in four Americans was unemployed, marking the highest unemployment rate in the country’s history. Tens of thousands had lost their homes and life savings, and there was very little confidence that President Herbert Hoover could turn things around. So when the election came, voters flocked to his Democratic competitor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who promised a New Deal for Americans—a comprehensive set of legislation to support struggling citizens and put the country back to work.
The massive federal intervention Roosevelt proposed was a significant challenge to the individualist ideals that governed many Americans’ lives. However, due to the extreme circumstances, he began his presidency with public and political support. With the help of his advisers, Roosevelt’s first hundred days in office were perhaps the most eventful of any U.S. president. In just over three months, he pushed over 15 bills through Congress and created a variety of government agencies to help farmers, workers, and businesses.
The New Deal’s first priority was stabilizing the banks. Over the previous three years, many Americans had withdrawn their savings out of fear that the banks would lose their money in bad investments. To regain the public’s confidence, FDR increased federal oversight of commercial banks and created bank insurance to guarantee that any deposited funds would always be available.
Next, he established the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), which cataloged each state’s need for relief and provided funds to help citizens afford groceries, rent, clothing, coal, and other necessities. Meanwhile, the Agricultural Adjustment Administration subsidized farmers and educated them in improving planting techniques. These policies fed and housed thousands, but they didn’t significantly address the New Deal’s biggest promise: reducing unemployment.
To tackle this, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established to employ over 250,000 young men for projects like tree planting, irrigation, and fire prevention. The CCC offered onsite work camps that provided food, shelter, and education to those employed, mostly young, single men with families in need of relief. Subsequent programs like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Tennessee Valley Authority added projects building roads, bridges, and hydroelectric dams. The WPA also funded art, writing, and theater programs. These initiatives cut civilian unemployment in half and did so alongside labor acts that abolished child labor, granted unions the right to collective bargaining, and set the first national minimum wage. Benefits were also created to help those unable to work, with the Social Security Act establishing an old-age pension system in addition to unemployment insurance, disability benefits, and welfare assistance.
However, despite these sweeping policies, the New Deal helped some groups more than others. Black Americans were hit hardest by the economic downturn, and the New Deal’s impact on Black communities varied widely. In northern cities like Chicago, Black citizens received a large share of jobs, vocational training, and education, with New Deal programs teaching more than one million Black Americans to read. Northern Black communities also received an influx of public housing, though it was heavily segregated. In the South, results were less positive. Roosevelt relied heavily on the support of Southern Democrats, who welcomed economic development but fought to preserve white supremacy. They ensured that new labor laws excluded domestic servants and agricultural workers, occupations held by many Black Americans. These politicians also undermined Eleanor Roosevelt’s attempts to push for a federal anti-lynching law. As a result, the New Deal has often been called a “raw deal” for Black communities, and many modern inequities in housing, employment, and financial stability are partially due to New Deal programs prioritizing white Americans.
In these ways and more, the New Deal didn’t fully live up to its promises. Despite employing over 8 million Americans, unemployment never went lower than 14%. The U.S. economy wouldn’t fully recover until the country’s mobilization for World War II. However, this bold campaign of progressive policies did empower unions to start their own revolution. In the coming decades, northern liberals, Black Americans, and other working minorities united to fight discriminatory hiring, reshaping the Democratic Party, challenging its leadership, and laying the groundwork for an emerging civil rights coalition.
New Deal – A series of programs and reforms introduced during the 1930s by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to combat the Great Depression and stimulate economic recovery in the United States. – The New Deal included initiatives like the Social Security Act and the establishment of the Works Progress Administration to provide jobs and support to struggling Americans.
Unemployment – The state of being without a job, often used to measure the health of an economy during different historical periods. – During the Great Depression, unemployment rates soared, leading to widespread poverty and hardship across the nation.
Banks – Financial institutions that accept deposits, offer credit, and provide other financial services, playing a crucial role in the economy. – The collapse of banks during the Great Depression led to the loss of savings for many Americans, prompting reforms in the banking sector.
Relief – Assistance, especially in the form of food, money, or services, provided to those in need during times of economic hardship. – The government provided relief to struggling families during the Great Depression through programs like the Federal Emergency Relief Administration.
Jobs – Positions of employment that provide individuals with income and contribute to the economy. – The creation of jobs through public works projects was a key component of the New Deal’s strategy to reduce unemployment.
Infrastructure – The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society, such as roads, bridges, and power supplies. – New Deal programs invested heavily in infrastructure, building roads and bridges that improved transportation and created jobs.
Black Americans – A term referring to African Americans, particularly in the context of their historical experiences and contributions in the United States. – Black Americans played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, fighting for equality and justice in the mid-20th century.
Segregation – The enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment, particularly prominent in the United States before the Civil Rights Movement. – Segregation laws, known as Jim Crow laws, mandated the separation of Black and white Americans in public spaces and services.
Policies – Courses or principles of action adopted or proposed by a government, party, business, or individual. – The New Deal policies aimed to provide economic relief, recovery, and reform to address the challenges of the Great Depression.
Civil Rights – The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality, often associated with the movement to end racial discrimination in the United States. – The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
