New Deal Dbq

The 1920s, known as the Roaring Twenties, was a time of economic distinction for the United States. An average of 95% of the population had jobs, giving them the freedom to own homes and cars with enough money leftover to enjoy a ballgame or a movie. Factories were in full swing, using the assembly line to produce goods at an all time high for a price lower than ever. However, the economic boom came to a halt. Factories began producing more than people were buying, creating an overproduction of goods. Eventually, businesses’ supply surpassed demand and businesses did not need to make as many goods. Businesses were then forced to let workers go. With goods losing value and people losing their jobs, the United States plummeted into the worst

The New Deal also instituted the Social Security Act, which gave money to those who could not work. With money in their pockets, Americans could again afford to buy goods. The demand for goods increased, causing the supply for goods to increase as well. With the supply increasing, more people were hired. With more jobs and an income for most Americans, the United States came out of the Great Depression. The New Deal programs aided those struggling during the depression to increase consumer spending, which ended the depression.

In 1933, the Public Works Administration, a program of the New Deal that provided employment to work on infrastructure and parks, went into action. Between 1933 and 1939, the PWA spent six billion dollars on 34,000 projects around the country, including bridges, roads, public buildings, hospitals, and airports. During the mid-1930s, factories had shut their doors to people looking for work. Demand for products had gone down and businesses did not need as many employees. However, the PWA sent men to work. With their paychecks, they were able to buy food, clothes and other necessities for their families, increasing demand for said products. In 1939, the PWA issued a report titled “America Builds”, claiming the money

Like the PWA, the CCC sent men to work improving our country. Instead of improving infrastructure, the CCC focused on preserving and enhancing America’s forests and natural parks. Beginning in 1933, the CCC employed over 2.5 million men. Besides developing most of today’s national parks, the CCC is best known for planting over three billion trees across the United States. The CCC began in 1933, the worst year of the depression, and lasted until 1942, when most American men went to war. Some say the war is what ended the depression. However, economic data from years prior to the war prove it was the CCC that sent America back into economic success. In 1933, unemployment had soared to 24.9%. Almost a fourth of the country was out of work. However, by 1938, a year before World War II began, unemployment had dropped to 19% and continued to drop the years following. Similar to the process of the PWA, the CCC was able to set the economic cycle in motion again. The worker’s paycheck went to support their families, who used the income to buy goods and food to live on. With more people having money to buy products from farms and factories, supply and demand increased. With supply increasing, factories were able to employ people again. Those workers were able to buy goods with their paycheck and fuel the cycle. This cycle continued and nearly tripled the GNP from