The Depression and The New Dea

"(Breen 151) At this time, Roosevelt felt that there has not been a true attempt by private initiative that the government needed to jump in and help. However, when Roosevelt entered office, many astonishing statistics made him feel that he needed the government to give immediate assistance. At the depth of the depression in 1933, one out of every four American workers was unemployed, and twenty percent of New York City school children were malnourished. It was clear that change was needed and was needed fast. This depression that struck the United States had a global affect and was unique in its severity and its outcome. This depression continued throughout the 1930's, shaking the foundations of Western capitalism.
             When Roosevelt was nominated, he told the people of the United States, "I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people."(FDR Memorial Home Page) Roosevelt, taking into consideration of the United States" condition, decided to implement his solution to the United States" economic downfall, which he entitled "The New Deal." The New Deal was a program that lasted from 1933 to 1939 which was to give relief, recovery, and reform to the ailing United States. The new policies under the New Deal were aimed to solve the economic problems that were plaguing the United States. The New deal integrated federal action to stimulate industry, assist the American people, guarantee minimum living standards, and try to prevent any other kind of depression to impinge on the United States.
             Roosevelt's New Deal, for the first two years, mainly concerned itself with relief. It set up shelters and soup kitchens, feeding the millions of unemployed Americans. Roosevelt felt this was the way to start economic recovery. After taking care of the unemployed Americans, Roosevelt's New Deal began to move towards recovery. In order to achieve this monumental task, Roosevelt created several agencies to help.