The Great Depression of the 1930s marked one of the darkest periods in American history, with widespread unemployment, economic hardship, and social distress. In response to this crisis, President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced the New Deal, a series of programs and reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy and providing relief to the American people. The New Deal represented a significant departure from past approaches to governance, particularly in terms of the federal government's role in ensuring economic stability and prosperity. Prior to the New Deal, the prevailing philosophy held that the government should play a limited role in economic affairs, with a focus on maintaining a laissez-faire approach to the economy. However, the severity of the Great Depression challenged this notion, leading to a reevaluation of the government's …show more content…
Another important aspect of the New Deal was its focus on regulatory reform. The New Deal introduced a range of regulations aimed at preventing another economic collapse. For example, the Securities and Exchange Commission was established to regulate the stock market and prevent fraud, while the Glass-Steagall Act separated commercial and investment banking to prevent conflicts of interest.In terms of specific legislation, three key programs stand out as particularly important. The Social Security Act of 1935 created a system of social insurance for retired workers, the unemployed, and the disabled, marking a significant expansion of the federal government's role in providing social welfare. The Wagner Act of 1935, also known as the National Labor Relations Act, guaranteed workers the right to organize and bargain collectively, strengthening labor unions and giving workers a greater voice in the