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Roosevelt's Contribution To The Great Depression

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To Americans in the 1930s, the Great Depression was a devastating blow to their previously carefree lifestyle. This time of trials and struggles was brought on by several events. After World War I, farmers struggled as prices dropped from sky-high from feeding an army to an all time low when their services were no longer needed. They tried to produce more, lowering prices, and ultimately selling themselves out of business. The steady decline of industry also contributed to the Great Depression. Cars and buses were created, putting thousands of railroad workers out of work, the same going for coal mining and factories as new sources of power were discovered. Fewer homes being built also led to an increased unemployment rate. Consumer …show more content…
In the years following the stock market crash, millions of Americans lost their jobs and sources of income. Both labor organizations, created to aid the unemployed of the in the wake of the Great Depression by offering suitable jobs, allowed for a smoother transition into a period of recovery. These programs were instrumental in the dawn of America’s new and improved economy, giving millions of young citizens a steady source of income, rapidly becoming a factor in the rise of consumerism. “... the Civilian Conservation Corporation put young men aged 18 to 25 to work... almost 3 million men had passed through the CCC.” (McDougal Littell, The Americans, 2007). By targeting the new generation of workers,the government ensured that not only were millions of young men working constructively, but they would also have a chance to rebuild the economy, and the country as a whole, in the future. Hank Oettinger, who witnessed the first checks being given by the CWA, stated, “I never saw such a change of attitude. Instead of walking around feeling dreary and looking sorrowful, everybody was joyous. Like a feast day. They were toasting each other. They had money in their pockets for the first time.” (Hank Oettinger, Hard Times, 1933). New Deal programs not only helped the citizens of America physically, they also significantly raised the general moral and opinion of the government. In such trying times, establishing trust is crucial to the redevelopment of the country. The New Deal provided a starting point for the rebuilding of that trust, and essentially became a large part of the reform of

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