Civil Works Administration facts for kids

Civil Works Administration workers cleaning and painting the gold dome of the Colorado State Capitol (1934)

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) was a special program in the United States. It was created to help people find jobs during a very tough time called the Great Depression. This was a period in the 1930s when many people lost their jobs and money.

The CWA was part of a bigger plan called the New Deal. The New Deal was a series of programs started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its goal was to help the country recover from the Great Depression.

The CWA gave temporary jobs to millions of people who were out of work. These jobs mostly involved manual labor, like building things. President Roosevelt announced the CWA on November 8, 1933. He put Harry L. Hopkins in charge of the program.

What Was the CWA?

The Civil Works Administration was a quick way to create jobs. It came from another program called the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA). The main idea was to get people working right away.

Most of the jobs were in construction. Workers built new buildings, roads, and bridges. They also fixed existing ones. This helped improve the country's infrastructure.

How Long Did It Last?

The CWA was a short-term program. It ran only during the winter of 1933–1934. It officially ended on March 31, 1934.

Even though it was short, the CWA had a big impact. It spent about $200 million each month. This money helped pay the wages of four million people. These jobs provided much-needed income for families during a difficult time.

Images for kids

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  Rock jail in Camp Verde, Arizona (1933)

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  CWA marker at Breese Stevens Field in Madison, Wisconsin (1934)

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  Marker for Grant Park in Phoenix (1934)

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  CWA project in Minnesota to straighten a road by removing a solid rock obstruction (1934)

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  Building the high school athletic field in Huntsville, Alabama (1934)

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  Grandview Park Music Pavilion, Sioux City, Iowa (1934)

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  Scenic boulevard built by 6,000 workers in San Francisco, California (1934)

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  El Monte Golf Course Clubhouse in Ogden, Utah (1935)

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  Hangar at the municipal airport in Montgomery, Alabama (1934)

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  Rocky Neck State Park Trail Bridge in East Lyme, Connecticut (1934)

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  Community building in Stockton, Missouri (1934)

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  Grey Eagle Village Hall in Grey Eagle, Minnesota (1934)

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  Leonidas Stone School (Leonidas, Michigan).

See also

In Spanish: Civil Works Administration para niños