The Great Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal Essay

The Great Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelts virgin fillDuring the 1930s, America witnessed a breakdown of the popand free enterprise system as the US fell into the worst depression inhistory. The economic depression that beset the United States and othercountries was quaint in its severity and its consequences. At the depth ofthe depression, in 1933, one American worker in every four was out of ajob. The great industrial slump continued throughout the 1930s, shakingthe foundations of Western capitalism.The New Deal describes the program of US president Franklin D.Roosevelt from 1933 to 1939 of relief, recovery, and reform. These newpolicies aimed to solve the economic problems created by the depression ofthe 1930s. When Roosevelt was nominated, he said, I pledge you, I pledgemyself, to a new deal for the American people. The New Deal includedfederal action of unparalleled scope to stimulate industrial recovery,assist victims of the Depression, guarantee minimum living stand ards, andprevent future economic crises. Many economic, political, and socialfactors lead up to the New Deal. Staggering statistics, like a 25%unemployment rate, and the fact that 20% of NYC school children were underweight and malnourished, made it clear immediate action was necessary. Inthe first base two years, the New Deal was concerned mainly with relief,setting up shelters and soup kitchens to feed the millions of unemployed. However as time progressed, the focus shifted towards recovery. In pronounce to accomplish this monumental task, several agencies were created.The National Recovery Administration (NRA) was the keystone of the earlynew deal program launched by Roosevelt. It was created... ... After the lawwas passed, yield began to rise as the economy turned to war production.Wages and prices continued to rise, and the original minimum wage ceasedto be relevant. However, this new law still excluded millions of operativepeople, as did social security. However, a sever e recession led manypeople to turn against New Deal policies. In addition, World War IIerupted in September 1939. Causing an enormous growth in the economy aswar goods were once again in great demand. No major New Deal legislationwas enacted after 1938.The Depression was a devastating event in America, and byregulating banks and the stock market the New Deal eliminated the dubiousfinancial practices that had helped precipitate the Great Depression.However, Roosevelts chief fiscal tool, deficit spending, proved to beineffective in averting downturns in the economy.