"Our greatest primary task is to put people to work. This is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously. It can be accomplished in part by direct recruiting by the Government itself, treating the task as we would treat the emergency of a war, but at the same time, through this employment, accomplishing greatly needed projects to stimulate and reorganize the use of our natural resources."
--Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, 1933.
How did Roosevelt's plan to address the problems of the Great Depression change the role of the American government?
Responses
A Under Roosevelt, the national government adopted a laissez-faire approach to the national economy and unemployment.
B Roosevelt reduced national expenses by shrinking the size of the federal government and cutting out many agencies and programs.
C The government took on a greater role in the national economy and created programs to address the nation's unemployment problems.
D Roosevelt decreased the political power of the federal government and gave more control to the state governments in regard to unemployment.