Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 facts for kids
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| Long title | JOINT RESOLUTION Making appropriations for relief purposes |
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| Enacted by | the 74th United States Congress |
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| Statutes at Large | 49 Stat. 115 |
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The Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 was a major law passed on April 8, 1935. It was a key part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's plan called the New Deal. This law created many new programs, like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Rural Electrification Administration. These programs are sometimes called the "second New Deal."
The main goal of these programs was to help Americans find work. The government paid people for their labor. This was meant to fight the high unemployment during the Great Depression. It also aimed to help the country recover and prevent future economic problems. This act started the largest system of government-funded relief programs in American history.
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Why the Act Was Needed
Before 1935, many government programs gave direct money or food to people. President Roosevelt did not like this idea for people who could work. He believed it made unemployed people feel bad and too dependent on the government. Most unemployed people also preferred to work for their aid.
Roosevelt was also worried about long-term unemployment and how to help older people. He felt it was important to start new programs quickly. In early 1935, about 11.3 million Americans were out of work. This was nearly 22% of all workers.
Roosevelt's Plan for Change
In January 1935, President Roosevelt announced his new ideas for helping the unemployed. He wanted the government to stop giving out direct handouts.
The Federal Government must and shall quit this business of relief.
I am not willing that the vitality of our people be further sapped by the giving of cash, of market baskets, of a few hours of weekly work cutting grass, raking leaves or picking up papers in public parks. We must preserve not only the bodies of the unemployed from destruction but also their self-respect, their self-reliance and courage and determination.
On April 8, 1935, Roosevelt introduced the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act. This new law would only give direct help to people who truly could not work. This included the elderly or those with disabilities. Even though it was called "emergency," the act was meant to solve a long-term problem.
Roosevelt asked Congress for about $4.88 billion for the act. About two-thirds of this money would pay for work programs. The rest would help end older programs like the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. This older program had replaced the Civil Works Administration in 1933.
The act set aside $27 million for special arts programs. These included the Federal Art Project, the Federal Writers' Project, and the Federal Theatre Project. These were part of the WPA's "Federal Project Number One."
Challenges and Changes
By September 1935, the new work program faced many problems. It seemed like it might not succeed. There was only about $1 billion left. Also, fewer than a quarter of the expected 3.5 million people had found jobs.
Several things made the program difficult:
- The law was delayed in Congress. Some people wanted the programs to pay higher wages.
- Leaders in Congress wanted to control how the money was spent. This made it hard to switch smoothly from older programs.
- There were disagreements between Harry Hopkins and Harold Ickes. They argued about what kind of projects the money should fund.
What the Act Achieved
President Roosevelt hoped this act would end the Great Depression and create many jobs. While it didn't fully end the Depression, it did help. Roosevelt gave the remaining money to Harry Hopkins, who created the WPA.
Congress continued to fund these programs through the 1930s. However, funding started to decrease in 1939. Many programs were stopped over the years. By 1943, Congress ended many Emergency Relief Appropriation Act programs. This included the WPA and the PWA. By then, WWII had started, creating thousands of new jobs. This meant unemployment was no longer a big problem.
Some people complained that the programs created "busy work" for the unemployed. They felt it was too expensive for taxpayers. However, some parts of the act were very successful.
Successes of the Programs
The Rural Electrification Administration was a big success. In 1934, only 11% of farms in America had electricity. By 1942, this number grew to 50%. By the end of the 1940s, almost all farms had electricity.
The WPA also built and fixed many important places. They built thousands of schools, hospitals, and playgrounds across the country.
