New Deal facts for kids

Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.

The New Deal was a big plan by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1939. It was a time when the country was in a very tough spot called the Great Depression. The New Deal included many new programs, projects, and rules.

These programs aimed to help people who were struggling. They supported farmers, people without jobs, young people, and the elderly. The New Deal also brought in new rules for banks. This was to make sure the economy could get back on track.

Some important programs were the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). Many of these ideas became laws passed by Congress. Others were put in place by President Roosevelt himself.

What Were the "3 R's"?

Historians often talk about the New Deal's "3 R's." These were the main goals of the programs:

• Relief: Giving immediate help to people who were poor or had no jobs. This meant providing food, money, and shelter.
• Recovery: Helping the economy get back to normal. This involved getting businesses running again and creating jobs.
• Reform: Changing the financial system to prevent another big economic crisis. This included new rules for banks and the stock market.

How the New Deal Changed Politics

The New Deal also changed American politics a lot. The Democratic Party became the main party in the country. It gained support from many different groups. These included people who believed in progressive ideas, people in the Southern United States, and workers in new labor unions.

The Republican Party was divided. Some Republicans supported parts of the New Deal. But many conservatives thought it was bad for businesses and the economy.

This led to a new political group called the New Deal coalition. This group helped the Democrats win many presidential elections until the 1960s. At the same time, a group called the conservative coalition often controlled Congress.

Images for kids

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  1935 cartoon by Vaughn Shoemaker making fun of the New Deal's many agencies.

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  A crowd at New York's American Union Bank during a bank run early in the Great Depression.

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  Franklin D. Roosevelt's positive attitude helped restore the nation's confidence. He famously said, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

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  The Public Works Administration helped build projects like the Bonneville Dam.

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  Pumping water by hand in Wilder, Tennessee, in 1942. The Tennessee Valley Authority helped bring modern services to rural areas.

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  The Blue Eagle symbol of the National Recovery Administration.

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  A poster publicizing Social Security benefits.

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  Female factory workers in Long Beach, California, in 1942.

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  The national debt compared to the gross national product.

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  An anti-relief protest sign near Davenport, Iowa, by Arthur Rothstein, 1940.

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  The WPA employed 2 to 3 million unemployed people in various jobs.

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  Frances Perkins watches as Roosevelt signs the National Labor Relations Act.

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  Construction of a Dam (1939) by William Gropper. The government hired artists to create public murals.

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  "Created Equal": A scene from Spirit of 1776 by the Federal Theatre Project, Boston, 1935.

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  The WPA hired unemployed teachers to provide free adult education programs.

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  A display for the Surplus Commodities Program in 1936.

See also

In Spanish: New Deal para niños