In the beginning, Roosevelt had to face a widespread economic disaster which covered all sectors: the banking had collapsed so that most people lost all their money and lifetime savings; the agriculture, more than the other sectors, suffered from the depression by overproduction and falling prices; and the industry urgently required recovery. First of all, Roosevelt proclaimed “a three-day ‘bank holiday’” and shortly after that the Emergency Banking Relief Act (EBRA) to restore the collapsed banking. The Agricultural Adjustment Act(AAA) was an attempt to solve the agricultural difficulties, and the recovery of the industry should be achieved by the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA).
The resulting most predominant and urgent problem in all sectors was increasing unemployment and impoverishment which Roosevelt attacked by varying make-work programs. He was aware of the alarming dimensions of this problem. Regarding this fact, taking the jobless to work was Roosevelt’s most important concern and as it was the basis of the well-being and prosperity of the nation it had priority over all other problems. What sets Roosevelt apart from the other presidents was his faith in the future and his ability to convince the American people that they must also believe in the future to regain a normal way of life.
Roosevelt’s work relief programs, especially during the First Hundred Days, have repeatedly been debated up to this day. There have always been controversial discussions about the effects and failures.
For all that reasons, in my paper I will concentrate on the make-work programs and examine its positive and also negative effects. In the first part I will shortly outline the situation before Roosevelt’s presidency and his election pledge, and I will generally define the term. Further, I will have a closer look on the chronologically ordered programs of the First New Deal. I am going to define each measure, demonstrate the effects, achievements, and also the negative side effects respectively criticism. The second part focused the make-work measures of the Second New Deal in a similar way. I will give an overview of the regular earnings in contrast to the earnings under work relief and WPA in a table. My intention is to give an assessment of the positive and negative results and achievements. I will examine to what extent Roosevelt was able to fulfil his promise and whether the programs were successful on a long term basis.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Situation of the Americans before Roosevelt's Presidency:
- Unemployment as a Result of the Great Depression
- Roosevelt's Encouragement of the Nation
- New Deal – A General Definition
- First New Deal - First Hundred Days
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
- Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA)
- Tennessee Valley Authority Act (TVA)
- Public Works Administration (PWA)
- Civil Works Administration (CWA)
- First New Deal - First Hundred Days
- Second New Deal – The Second Hundred Days
- Works Progress Administration (WPA)
- National Youth Administration (NYA)
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the effects of the make-work programs implemented during the New Deal era, focusing on both their positive and negative impacts. It examines the historical context of the Great Depression, Roosevelt's initial steps to restore confidence, and the chronological implementation of various programs. The paper aims to assess the effectiveness of these programs in alleviating unemployment and impoverishment in the long term.
- The devastating impact of the Great Depression on the American population.
- Roosevelt's approach to addressing the crisis, including his emphasis on national encouragement.
- The implementation and impact of the make-work programs during the First and Second New Deal.
- The effectiveness and limitations of these programs in alleviating unemployment and poverty.
- The long-term consequences and legacies of the New Deal programs.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The Introduction provides an overview of the economic devastation caused by the Great Depression, highlighting the widespread unemployment and impoverishment that Roosevelt faced upon taking office. It also introduces the central focus of the paper – an assessment of the make-work programs and their impact.
Chapter 2 examines the dire situation in America before Roosevelt's presidency, detailing the prevalence of unemployment and the suffering endured by the population. It explores the government's limited capacity to address the crisis and emphasizes the desperate expectations placed on Roosevelt by the American people.
Chapter 3 introduces the New Deal, providing a general definition and examining the major programs implemented during the First Hundred Days. It outlines the objectives, effects, and criticisms of each program, including the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA), Tennessee Valley Authority Act (TVA), Public Works Administration (PWA), and Civil Works Administration (CWA).
Chapter 4 continues the analysis of the make-work programs, focusing on the measures implemented during the Second Hundred Days. It covers the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the National Youth Administration (NYA), exploring their aims, accomplishments, and shortcomings.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key terms and concepts explored in this paper include: Great Depression, unemployment, poverty, New Deal, make-work programs, economic recovery, social welfare, Roosevelt, First Hundred Days, Second Hundred Days, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA), Tennessee Valley Authority Act (TVA), Public Works Administration (PWA), Civil Works Administration (CWA), Works Progress Administration (WPA), National Youth Administration (NYA).
- Quote paper
- Corinna Roth (Author), 2006, The Make-Work Programs in the New Deal Era: An Assessment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/82252