One of Roosevelt’s biggest schemes was the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), CWA (Civilian Works Administration) and PWA (Public Works Administration.) These were all aimed at getting poor unemployed people working again and earning money. This worked at young men were taken into these agencies where they were paid to do jobs such as dig irrigation ditches, and plant trees to reduce soil erosion. The CWA and CCC did the same jobs, sweep parks, clean up places, but the CCC was mainly in the country. The PWA worked manly around the country where it employed skilled workers. It $7 million getting workers building dams and bridges. It also benefited the whole country as it built 33% of all America’s hospitals and 70% of all schools between 1936 and 1939. This could be looked on as a great achievement, but many criticised it as wasteful and cheap labour as many said, it paid men money to do useless tasks. But for every bad point you find a good point as the CCC and others gave men a head start to finding jobs by giving them skills. Also the jobs it did were useful as without them river could have flooded and soil erosion could have become extremely severe.
Probably one of the most Successful agencies in the New Deal was the TVA (Tennessee Valley Administration) this was a massive project which included 33 dams to be built. It was so impressive as it covered seven states and affected the whole of America. By building the dams there was now control over the river. This would reduce flooding and soil erosion, which had previously made this area into a very poor place. On the industrial side it provided cheap hydroelectricity to millions of people across the whole of America. Also new waterways were built providing transport and new opportunities for business and growth. This gave a region a completely new fresh of life, which it needed after being hit badly by the depression. This was one of the biggest successes of the new deal as it combined industry and agriculture in one enormous project and dramatically improved unemployment and the living conditions of millions of people.
Again this agency was heavily criticised. Many businesses complained saying the government had interfered with business and America’s “rugged individualism.” They also said the new electricity was putting other businesses out of profit as they couldn’t keep up with the TVA’s non-profit business. The government was also accused of intervening in the free market where businesses and companies control everything themselves and the government does not get involved.
Roosevelt did not just concentrate on agriculture and unemployment; some of his other schemes were on industry. The NRA (National Recovery Act) was a large agency which aimed at getting industry back onto it’s feet. It secured worker’s wages, which gave them a chance to buy new goods. It also tried to raise factory prices and improve working conditions. The NRA did this by allowing businessmen to sign a contract saying they would agree to all this. If they did they would be allowed to display a large blue eagle representing fair trade. People were encouraged to buy blue eagle goods by parades and marches. Also the Wagner Act was set up which allowed people to be part of trade unions and not get sacked. This soon gave trade unions power and employers had to listen to them.
This was condemned as businesses complained that gave them restrictions and meddled with the free market. They said that this forced them to do what the government wanted and not be left to sort themselves out.
The New Deal may have benefited some people, but many others were left out. Women for one example were discriminated more than before the depression. There were lower wages even for men and women that worked the same job and hours.
Blacks also had a very hard time they were allowed in the CCC and other programs, but had separate camps. Many criticised him for not doing more for blacks, but blacks regarded him as a hero as they had always been discriminated against before, but much worse.
Roosevelt’s schemes may have helped, but they were very expensive and did not have the big enough impact he wanted. Lots of people again complained that this was wrong as rich people; businesses and republican all complained about how high the taxes were and how it wasn’t benefiting them directly.
Although there was a decrease in the amount of unemployed there was still a lot of it around. Also the price for goods and food was still quite low though Roosevelt’s attempts. The real reason all of this went was because of the war.
In conclusion I think that the New Deal was quite a success. I think this because Roosevelt inherited a very bad situation that needed to be made worse and he did. I feel Roosevelt made it much better and he improved the whole of America. Even though his alphabet agencies were very expensive and didn’t work as well as he wanted them to do, they still did reduce unemployment and get people doing things. Roosevelt was trying to get the country climbing up the upward spiral it had fallen down and it was hard, but if he continued then the country would have soon got back together would have gone up. Roosevelt’s agencies worked well at the time and did work. Even though the war came and quickly ended nearly all of the depression I feel if Roosevelt continued then there wouldn’t any left soon.
I think the biggest teller of the success was if there was any other crash or depression after Roosevelt’s new deal. The answer is no so Roosevelt must have complete reform as it hasn’t happened again after nearly 70 years.