The new deal

The New Deal Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation The New Deal President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the New Deal in response to the Great Depression that was having a vast impact on the United States. While its legacy is debated with some seeing the New Deal as a pivotal intervention that saved the economy while others viewing it as an infringement on government power and inefficiencies, there is no doubt that it was a historic event that emboldened the military to action (Skocpol & Jacobs, 2011). In the end, the New Deal proved to benefit the United States as a whole rather than hurt it since it gave relief to millions of Americans reformed the economy in ways that would prevent future crises, and fundamentally transformed the role of the federal government. Yet, it was not errorless and failed to adequately resolve racism and bring lasting economic recovery until World War II. Perhaps the New Deal’s most significant accomplishment was its delivery of fast emergency relief to Americans ailing from the economic collapse of the Great Depression. Millions of unemployed workers had jobs through the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) programs. For instance, the WPA employed 8.5 million people between 1935 and 1943 while it also helped to build schools, bridges, and roads among its infrastructure (Library of Congress). Aside from earning families necessary income, these projects strengthened the country’s infrastructure and left behind a physical legacy. Another cornerstone of the New Deal was the Social Security Act of 1935, which created a safety net for the elderly, disabled, and unemployed. With this act, unemployment insurance and pensions were introduced (Skocpol & Jacobs, 2011). The above move brought security to many Americans who would otherwise have been destined to old age destitution. The new policies showed the government’s new resolve to help its people and its break with the laissez-faire policies of the 1920s. Additionally, the New Deal reformed the economic and financial systems to prepare for more stability. Shortly after, another set of responses to the collapse of the economies resulted, such as the Banking Act of 1933 which created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to protect savers' savings and restore confidence in the banking system (Library of Congress Documents). This act reduced the probability of bank runs, something tha...