How did the New Deal programs impacted people differently based upon class, gender, race, heritage, and disability.
During the Great Depression, President Franklin D Roosevelt launched what was known as the “new deal”. The new deal was a series of policies that were used to address the economic challenges that the United states had faced during the 1930’s. These “programs” and “policies” had a goal of providing reform and relief throughout the country after it faced a massive stock market crash, banks went into failure, the unemployment rate skyrocketed and widespread poverty. Even though the New Deal brought about new change, it did not benefit everyone. Often people of lower classes, different races, different heritages and those who had disabilities were not beneficiaries of the New Deal efforts.
One of the biggest goals of the New Deal was to be able to provide relief to those that were unemployed, alleviate poverty and restore the economy. Programs were developed to help the struggling Americans such as the PWA, CCC and the WPA.These programs were beneficial in providing jobs and financial assistance to those in need and struggling. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration provided housing,food and necessities for the poor. Although these programs helped, they didn't help equally. Middle and upper class people were less affected by the hardships that arose during the Great Depression and barely needed the government's assistance. The treatment between the classes is very distinct, most of the unemployed poorer class citizens did not fully benefit from these efforts as well.
Gender was a crucial aspect in shaping the New Deal Policies. As most of the programs benefited workers in lines such as construction, infrastructure and other labor intensive work jobs, women had less access to the job opportunities that arose with the New Deal development. Some of the New Deal programs did not address womens needs such as the Social security act of 1935, were it provided pensions to retired workers but excluded them as they worked in low wage jobs and their living was in informal sectors.Women often found themselves delegated to jobs such as sewing and teaching which were both low income. Women became primary caregivers with the New Deal’s placement as the men were considered to be the “breadwinners” of the family. A Lot of women did find benefit within the new deals policies as they developed advocacy groups.
African Americans and other racial minorities were also affected by the New Deal. Although the new deal was able to provide relief to most african americans, it developed racial inequalities as the programs were implemented in a way that instilled segregation and discrimination.Many white dominated states allocated less of the aid to those that were African American, especially within the South. Some programs such as the CCC and the PWA actually excluded African Americans from participating with their benefits, leaving them with lower wage jobs and separate work forces. The WPA was able to provide many jobs to Black artists and musicians during the Harlem Renaissance and was able to help them broadcast their talents. The impact of the new deal itself within the African American community was both progressive and oppressive.
Other ethnic groups such as Jewish people or Latino/a’s were immigrants during this time period. They were able to obtain some of the programs that the new deal had provided such as the WPA and the NRA, but they also faced discrimination and had limited access as well. The programs such as the social security act excluded both agricultural and domestic workers, which were primarily those immigrants of rural backgrounds.
For those who had been born or had developed disabilities the New Deals impact was both beneficial and also worsening. They were able to gain access to jobs through the programs, but did not provide the support and protections that the disabled workers needed.With the placement of the social security act though, the elderly and disabled were able to receive benefits and a pension. The government at this time did not prioritize the rights of the disabled and elderly so they were often excluded as well.
While the new deal brought about change and relief to millions of americans throughout the country, it failed to fairly provide assistance instead it was based upon class,gender,heritage,race, age and disability.
Kennedy, David M. Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945. Oxford UP, 1999.
Leuchtenburg, William E. Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1932-1940. Harper & Row, 1963.
Piven, Frances Fox, and Richard A. Cloward. Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public Welfare. Vintage Books, 1993.
Schlesinger, Arthur M. The Age of Roosevelt: The Coming of the New Deal. Houghton Mifflin, 1958.
Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States. HarperCollins, 2005.
Tate, Julia. "The New Deal and African Americans: A Complex Relationship." History Today, vol. 56, no. 12, 2006, pp. 10-12.
Sklar, Kathryn Kish. "The New Deal and the Politics of Gender." The Journal of American History, vol. 80, no. 1, 1993, pp. 15-25.
During the Great Depression, President Franklin D Roosevelt launched what was known as the “new deal”. The new deal was a series of policies that were used to address the economic challenges that the United states had faced during the 1930’s. These “programs” and “policies” had a goal of providing reform and relief throughout the country after it faced a massive stock market crash, banks went into failure, the unemployment rate skyrocketed and widespread poverty. Even though the New Deal brought about new change, it did not benefit everyone. Often people of lower classes, different races, different heritages and those who had disabilities were not beneficiaries of the New Deal efforts.
One of the biggest goals of the New Deal was to be able to provide relief to those that were unemployed, alleviate poverty and restore the economy. Programs were developed to help the struggling Americans such as the PWA, CCC and the WPA.These programs were beneficial in providing jobs and financial assistance to those in need and struggling. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration provided housing,food and necessities for the poor. Although these programs helped, they didn't help equally. Middle and upper class people were less affected by the hardships that arose during the Great Depression and barely needed the government's assistance. The treatment between the classes is very distinct, most of the unemployed poorer class citizens did not fully benefit from these efforts as well.
Gender was a crucial aspect in shaping the New Deal Policies. As most of the programs benefited workers in lines such as construction, infrastructure and other labor intensive work jobs, women had less access to the job opportunities that arose with the New Deal development. Some of the New Deal programs did not address womens needs such as the Social security act of 1935, were it provided pensions to retired workers but excluded them as they worked in low wage jobs and their living was in informal sectors.Women often found themselves delegated to jobs such as sewing and teaching which were both low income. Women became primary caregivers with the New Deal’s placement as the men were considered to be the “breadwinners” of the family. A Lot of women did find benefit within the new deals policies as they developed advocacy groups.
African Americans and other racial minorities were also affected by the New Deal. Although the new deal was able to provide relief to most african americans, it developed racial inequalities as the programs were implemented in a way that instilled segregation and discrimination.Many white dominated states allocated less of the aid to those that were African American, especially within the South. Some programs such as the CCC and the PWA actually excluded African Americans from participating with their benefits, leaving them with lower wage jobs and separate work forces. The WPA was able to provide many jobs to Black artists and musicians during the Harlem Renaissance and was able to help them broadcast their talents. The impact of the new deal itself within the African American community was both progressive and oppressive.
Other ethnic groups such as Jewish people or Latino/a’s were immigrants during this time period. They were able to obtain some of the programs that the new deal had provided such as the WPA and the NRA, but they also faced discrimination and had limited access as well. The programs such as the social security act excluded both agricultural and domestic workers, which were primarily those immigrants of rural backgrounds.
For those who had been born or had developed disabilities the New Deals impact was both beneficial and also worsening. They were able to gain access to jobs through the programs, but did not provide the support and protections that the disabled workers needed.With the placement of the social security act though, the elderly and disabled were able to receive benefits and a pension. The government at this time did not prioritize the rights of the disabled and elderly so they were often excluded as well.
While the new deal brought about change and relief to millions of americans throughout the country, it failed to fairly provide assistance instead it was based upon class,gender,heritage,race, age and disability.
Kennedy, David M. Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945. Oxford UP, 1999.
Leuchtenburg, William E. Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1932-1940. Harper & Row, 1963.
Piven, Frances Fox, and Richard A. Cloward. Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public Welfare. Vintage Books, 1993.
Schlesinger, Arthur M. The Age of Roosevelt: The Coming of the New Deal. Houghton Mifflin, 1958.
Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States. HarperCollins, 2005.
Tate, Julia. "The New Deal and African Americans: A Complex Relationship." History Today, vol. 56, no. 12, 2006, pp. 10-12.
Sklar, Kathryn Kish. "The New Deal and the Politics of Gender." The Journal of American History, vol. 80, no. 1, 1993, pp. 15-25.