The U.S. and the Great Depression
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a) With reference to the specific groups and individuals, analyze their reasons for opposition to the New Deal. (669 - 670, 675) Perspectives
b) “Even though the New Deal Programs of Franklin Roosevelt were massive in their size they did not effectively solve the economic problems created by the Great Depression in the U.S.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (678 - 683) Perspectives
c) To what extent was the Wall Street Crash of 1929 a cause of the Great Depression? (640 - 642) Cause
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1) _____ Write Question (3 pts)
a) _____ name (3 pts)
b) _____ date (3 pts)
c) _____ grammar (3 pts)
d) _____ 2 pages (3 pts)
2) _____Thesis – 1st paragraph (3 pts)
a) _____Supporting Argument #1 (3 pts)
b) _____Supporting Argument #2 (3 pts)
3) _____Supporting Argument #1 – 2nd paragraph (3 pts)
a) _____ Describe/Explain Historical Thinking Skill. (3 pts)
b) _____ Elaborate about the time period and/or argument. (3 pts)
c) _____Names OR Events OR Vocabulary AND why they are important. (3 pts)
d) _____Names OR Events OR Vocabulary AND why they are important. (3 pts)
e) _____Names OR Events OR Vocabulary AND why they are important. (3 pts)
f) _____Historical Accuracy (are your historical facts correct) (3 pts)
g) _____The Argument answers the question (3 pts)
4) _____Supporting Argument #2 – 3rd paragraph (3 pts)
a) _____ Describe/Explain Historical Thinking Skill. (3 pts)
b) _____ Elaborate about the time period and/or argument. (3 pts)
c) _____Names OR Events OR Vocabulary AND why they are important. (3 pts)
d) _____Names OR Events OR Vocabulary AND why they are important. (3 pts)
e) _____Names OR Events OR Vocabulary AND why they are important. (3 pts)
f) _____Historical Accuracy (are your historical facts correct) (3 pts)
g) _____The Argument answers the question (3 pts)
5) _____Contextualization (Summarize the time period) – 4th paragraph (3 pts)
a) _____ What was occurring? (3 pts)
b) _____ Where were the events occurring at? (3 pts)
c) _____ Why were these events occurring? (3 pts)
d) _____ How were these events occurring? (3 pts)
e) _____ Who was involved and in what ways? (3 pts)
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Date of writing: 10/28/2025
Time limit: 45 minutes
Preparation time: 4 days
Chosen prompt: “Even though the New Deal Programs of Franklin Roosevelt were massive in their size they did not effectively solve the economic problems created by the Great Depression in the U.S“Even though the New Deal Programs of Franklin Roosevelt were massive in their size they did not effectively solve the economic problems created by the Great Depression in the U.S.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (678 - 683) Perspectives.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (678 - 683) Perspectives
Word count: 978
Grade: 88%
The statement, "even though the New Deal programs of Franklin D. Roosevelt were massive in their size, they did not effectively solve the economic problems created by the Great Depression in the U.S." is both a justifiable, agreeable, and arguable assertion that has countless supporting and detracting points when viewing it from multiple standpoints. From a surface-level view, this statement is justifiable in that despite the exorbitant efforts of the New Deal programs, there still remained high unemployment, a mercurial and unstable economy, and injustices against marginalized populations. However, a deeper analysis can argue that even if the overall, long-term effectiveness of the New Programs was futile, they were heavily impactful for the majority of the population during the time period through reformed financial systems, a surplus of employment opportunities, and a holistic labor welfare emphasis.
It could be stated that Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal efforts were massive in size, yet minimal in influence as exemplified by high unemployment, unstable economy, and minority inequality. The following events cannot be understood without setting them in the broader historical context of the Great Depression and decade following, in which the aftermath of the tragic Great Depression underscored the fact that there was no full recovery even a decade following the downturn; industrial output never rose back to pre-Depression levels, the economy as a whole was relatively fragile, and unemployment stagnated. Conservatives--- around the time period of the Great Depression and years following---had the stance that Roosevelt's New Deal programs were crossing the line of overreaching, arguing that the programs took away individualism and threatened the free-market capitalistic economy that was free enterprise. As stated before, in the years that followed the Great Depression, unemployment stagnated at noticeably high percentages; in fact, by the late 1930s, unemployment hovered around 15-17% even with New Deal agencies. Organizations that offered employment opportunities, such as the Public Works Administration, or the PWA, did aid the high percentages, though work was often short-term and low-paying, accentuating the ineffectiveness of the New Deal and the temporary relief it offered. Additionally, the economy of the U.S. during this period of time was very fragile, an actor that would play a role in an economic downturn known as the "Roosevelt Recession". Occurring when Roosevelt attempted to balance the budget and reduce the national deficit---cutting government spending and withdrawing reform programs---the Roosevelt Recession led to the stock market dropping once more, a rise of unemployment, and a decrease in industrial output. Furthermore, it government intervention actions, such as the Agricultural Adjustment Act---an action that incentivized farmers to reduce agricultural output in order to balance the crop economy---hurt tenant farmers and sharecroppers, whom the majority of which were African American. Alongside embedded systematic racial discrimination, Black farmers were often excluded from relief programs and free benefits alongside other marginalized people.
However, while the New Deal could be seen as ineffective, it undoubtedly had numerous positive impacts on the broader U.S. populations in the form of reformed financial systems, more employment windows, infrastructural improvements, and general labor welfare. The positive influence of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal took place during a time of distrust, as the Great Depression led to countless bank failures---a burning of American savings---and thus the wider public lost confidence in the banking system. Despite this, many U.S. citizens who benefitted from Roosevelt's remediation efforts were highly grateful of the ameliorating aid that was Roosevelt's New Deal, often viewing the programs as life-saving and a watershed in modern governance. In the years that followed the Great Depression, the establishment of the Federal Deposit Insurance Co-operation, or the FDIC, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, revived confidence in the banking system. The Federal Deposit Insurance Co-operation insured American deposits, ensuring the safety of savings, while the Securities and Exchange Commission regulated the stock market, preventing fraud by enforcing transparency; together, these two organizations reestablished a sense of security and a semi-ephemeral trust in financial institutions. Overmore, the various job opportunities, primarily in the industrial and environmental sector, were generated from New Deal agencies such as the Works Progress Administration, also known as the WPA, and Civilian Conservation Corps, or the CCC. It was also the efforts of the Tennessee Valley Authority, or the TVA, who increased the general regional quality of life in poorer areas. In addition to the Tennessee Valley Authority, establishment of the Social Security Act and Wagner Act gave voices to the once voiceless labor workers---the backbone---of the country. The Social Security Act provided social insurance to vulnerable populations while ensuring children would not be forced into the work force while the Wagner Act allowed laborers to collectively bargain, participate in strikes, and unionize.
The combination of workforce justices, holistic American life improvements, and financial reforms---alongside high unemployment, a fragile economy, and minority injustices---make the statement both agreeable and highly illogical. The overview of these events cannot be explained without stating the influences and establishments of the New Deal, Public Works Administration, "Roosevelt Recession", Works Progress Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, and Tennessee Valley Authority, all of which took place during the Great Depression and in the years that followed. While these events did occur across the U.S. in every effected community, the broader perspective on American government points to the Northeastern section of the U.S. These events occurred for a multitude of reasons; however, it can largely be attributed to the Great Depression, acts of the U.S. people, and decision of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt, playing a major role on the larger stage that was the U.S. during the 1930s, was undeniably an influential figure involved in the stated events.
