The Great Depression of 1929 is one of the most tragic collapses in the history of America. It was a direct threat to the cultural and social foundation of the great American nation. The complacency that had been allowed to flourish during the so-called Roaring Twenties created the foundation for the eventual collapse of the Stock Market.
The famous American Dream was for the first time thwarted by the market dynamics. The collapse and devastation of the Great Depression coincided with the entry of Franklin Delano Roosevelt into the presidential seat. His entry into power rode on the concept that he would rescue the country from the ultimate atrophy (Rauchway 18).
Upon entry into office of the President, Roosevelt had not planned on how he would end the Depression and his willingness to try anything gave birth to the New Deal Experiment. The first move by the presented involved shutting down all banks to allow the Treasury to investigate and evaluate each bank individually. Later, only the secure banks were allowed to reopen. The move by the president marked the first step into the New Deal Experiment.
The state of agriculture in America had for years been discussed as a potential loophole for the country’s economy. The agricultural sector was in a deplorable state owing to the lack of advanced farming techniques. By passing the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1993, the president allowed the Secretary of Agriculture to raise the income of the farmers. This resulted in the creation of limitations for the amount of produce that a farmer would provide (Rauchway 64).
The implementation of the Act involved plowing of land and slaughtering of animals after farmers had been compensated for their value. The aim of the move was to reduce the surplus that had resulted in the devaluation of agricultural produce. This move was resisted by many farmers owing to the fact that it conflicted with their values of individualism; however, the state of depression allowed for the continuation of the program.
The Civilian Conservation Corps was another program that was part of the New Deal. It involved the creation of temporary employment to over three hundred thousand men. The operation included a monthly stipend of thirty dollars, twenty-five dollars being sent to their families. The job included the planting of trees, stocking lakes and rivers with fish, and clearing campgrounds (Hiltzik 93). It was a public works project that was operated by the Army with the aim of getting unemployed young men from the streets and equally conserving the environment.
The Tennessee Valley Authority represented one of the most ambitious plans in the New Deal Experiment. It proposed the construction of power plants and dams along the river, which would provide electricity to the surrounding seven states that surrounded the river (Foner 138). The programs created a large number of employment opportunities and allowed for accessibility of electricity by numerous homes.
The crucial final program of the New Deal entailed the National Industrial Recovery Act, which had the single mandate of stabilizing the numerous factors that were instrumental in the prosperity of a nation. The Act resulted in the creation of the minimum wage, the platform for the formation of unions, the creation of child labor laws and the establishment of the forty hour work week. These programs represented the core of the New Deal Experiment that the president put in place to help quell the Great Depression.
The New Deal Experiment was however not just a success story. It had numerous setbacks and shortcomings in its implementation process. One of the setbacks of the program involved the Hot Oil case of 1935 that involved the Panama Refining Company. Another major setback involved the National Industrial Recovery Act, which despite its achievements, became one of the most controversial components of the New Deal package (Foner 170).
For most people, the law hinted at socialist and communist ideology owing to the fact that it focused on promoting large corporation while ignoring the needs of the smaller businesses that were privately owned. Intervention and use of executive power by the president also saw the passage of some laws that were found to be unconstitutional since they bypass the Supreme Court Review.
Despite the overwhelming criticism that President Roosevelt received from the conservatives and the flaws of the New Deal, he never lost his popularity. To a better part of the population, Roosevelt was seen as a national savior. The New Deal program was one of the most effective programs among the presidents of the United States. It could be argued that its success arose from the fact that it came at a time when the people were desperate enough; however, its successes were evident and proof enough regarding its effectiveness.
The New Deal managed to leave a long-lasting legacy among the American people, which was also because the American people wanted a way out of the depression and they got one. The Social Security Act and Tennessee Valley Authority are some of the remnants of the program that continue to impact the American society even in the modern day.
Works Cited
Hiltzik, Michael. The New Deal: A Modern History. Simon and Schuster, 2011.
Rauchway, Eric. The Great Depression and the New Deal: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2008.
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 2014. Print.
