The New Deal changed the role of the federal government in people’s lives.
In 3–5 sentences, evaluate whether this was a positive or negative change. Describe 2–3 New Deal programs that were effective or ineffective to support your evaluation.
The New Deal was a positive change for the federal government's role in people's lives. It provided relief to millions of Americans who were suffering from the Great Depression, and it helped to restore faith in the government. The Social Security Act, which provided a safety net for the elderly and disabled, was an effective program that has been providing benefits to Americans for over 80 years. The Works Progress Administration was also effective in providing jobs to millions of unemployed Americans. On the other hand, the National Recovery Administration was an ineffective program that was eventually declared unconstitutional. Overall, the New Deal was a positive change that provided much needed relief to the American people during a difficult time.
Got the whole test?
The New Deal brought about significant changes in the role of the federal government in people's lives. The evaluation of whether this change was positive or negative depends on one's perspective. From a positive standpoint, the New Deal programs provided relief and support to millions of American citizens during the Great Depression. For instance, the Social Security Act established a safety net for retired workers and aided individuals in times of economic hardship. Additionally, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) created numerous jobs and infrastructure projects, boosting the economy. On the other hand, critics argue that the expansion of the government's role undermined individual liberties and created a dependency on welfare programs, such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which some claim did not effectively address the underlying economic issues. Ultimately, whether the change was positive or negative is subjective and dependent on one's political ideology and beliefs about the role of government.
Evaluating whether the change brought by the New Deal was positive or negative is subjective and depends on one's perspective. However, to support your evaluation, you can consider two effective programs like the Social Security Act and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and one ineffective program like the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA).
The Social Security Act, established in 1935, created a safety net for American workers by providing unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, and aid to dependent children. This program had a significant positive impact as it provided financial security and helped reduce poverty among vulnerable populations.
The Civilian Conservation Corps employed young, unemployed men to work on public projects, providing them with shelter, food, and a small wage. By doing so, the CCC not only tackled unemployment but also contributed to environment conservation by creating parks, planting trees, and improving infrastructure.
On the other hand, the Agricultural Adjustment Act aimed at stabilizing agricultural prices by reducing production, paying farmers to reduce their acreage, and imposing regulations. However, it had an unintended negative consequence as it led to the destruction of crops and livestock at a time when food shortage was a concern during the Great Depression.
In conclusion, the New Deal brought about significant changes in people's lives through programs like Social Security and the CCC, which had positive effects. However, programs like the AAA had unintended negative consequences. Hence, the evaluation of the New Deal's impact on the role of the federal government in people's lives can be a mixture of both positive and negative outcomes.