In 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) started the New Deal. The success of the New Deal created millions of job opportunities and provided relief to many Americans. Despite that, the New Deal did not solve the unemployment crisis across the country. There were many programs aimed to help Americans gain job opportunities during the Great Depression. Among these programs, FDR introduced the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The WPA and CCC “put millions of Americans to work and provided the country with many benefits, including parks, roads, buildings, and artwork.” (Downes). The WPA alone gave over 3 million unemployed men and women jobs that helped build schools, hospitals, and many more important institutions. Similarly, the CCC provided jobs to many young Americans between the ages of 17-23 to help combat the financial crisis they were in while also assisting in the construction of many National Forests we know today. These programs not only provided financial support but also left a long-lasting impact on the country for future generations. …show more content…
More specifically, one program knowns as the Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA), provided “federal grants to states that funded salaries for government workers as well as local soup kitchens and other direct-aid to the poor programs” (Khan Academy). FERA also gave direct assistance in the form of cash payments, food, clothing, and other essentials to many families in need. Farmers who were facing foreclosure and other financial difficulties were given financial aid and the resources needed to continue farming. FERA also consequentially helped businesses by providing jobs to unemployed workers boosting consumer spending. Without the introduction of FERA, many Americans would have struggled to survive during the difficult time