the Great Depression voczb

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn that lasted from 1929 to the late 1930s, marked by massive unemployment, bank failures, and poverty.

Herbert Hoover

U.S. President from 1929–1933. He was in office when the Great Depression began and was criticized for not doing enough to help struggling Americans.

Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)

A New Deal program that paid farmers to reduce crop production to raise crop prices and help the farming economy recover.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

A New Deal program that provided jobs to young men doing environmental work like planting trees, building parks, and fighting soil erosion.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

A government agency created to protect people’s bank deposits. If a bank fails, the FDIC insures your money.

National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act)

A law that protected workers’ rights to form unions, bargain collectively, and protest unfair labor practices.

National Recovery Act (NRA)

A New Deal program that set rules for fair wages, prices, and working conditions to help stabilize the economy.

Social Security

A program created during the New Deal that provides money to retired people, the disabled, and unemployed workers.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

A government project that built dams and power plants in the Tennessee Valley region to create jobs and bring electricity to rural areas.

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

One of the largest New Deal programs; it created millions of jobs building roads, schools, bridges, and also supported artists, writers, and musicians.

Recovery, Reform, Relief

• Relief: Immediate help for the unemployed and poor

• Recovery: Programs to rebuild the economy

• Reform: Changes to prevent another depression