At the beginning of the Great Depression the economy was destabilized due to bank failures. Between 1929 and 1933, 40% of all banks failed. Life for Americans went downhill. 1933-1937 was President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first term. Roosevelt’s words to the people were very inspirational, and it gave the American people hope. Franklin Roosevelt promised, “Throughout the nation men and women, forgotten in the political philosophy of the Government, look to us here for guidance and for more equitable opportunity to share in the distribution of national wealth... I pledge myself to a new deal for the American people. This is more than a political campaign. It is a call to arms”(1932). All programs were in response to the Great Depression, and what historians refer to as the “3 Rs”: relief, recovery and reform: relief for the unemployed and poor, recovery of the economy to normal levels, and reform of the financial system to prevent a repeat depression. In 1933, congress passed the Emergency Banking Act and because of it, three quarters of banks reopened within the next three days.
Men would get any job available to them, which was most likely whatever they could find. The New Deal made programs for mostly men. Women had to stop working after they got married, but the government realized that they needed help from the women. Many single women or widows were hired to work at charities, hospitals, and entertainment programs. Young adults and children probably left home and had to survive on their own. African Americans suffered during this time, as they had to face racism and discrimination in the work force. Their jobs would be replaced by white people all the time. They had a power over many people. Roosevelt (and others) worked to make sure that Blacks received at least 10% of welfare assistance payments.
By: Abby R