Alphabet Agencies

  • AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act)

    • Addressed overproduction in farming, which was driving prices down

    • Paid farmers subsidies to reduce crop and livestock production

    • Encouraged farmers to perform sustainable farming

    • Criticized for screwing over tenant farmers and sharecroppers

  • NRA (National Recovery Administration)

    • Designed to stabilize the economy by promoting fair wages, prices, and working conditions

    • Established industry codes to set minimum wages, maximum work hours, and fair competition practices

    • Declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1935

  • NYA (National Youth Administration)

    • Provided work and education opportunities for young people

    • Offered part-time jobs to students so they could afford to stay in school

    • Trained unemployed youth in vocational skills

  • TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)

    • Addressed poverty and underdevelopment in the Tennessee Valley region

    • Built dams to control flooding and generate hydroelectric power

    • Created jobs and improved infrastructure in rural areas

  • HOLC-FHA (Home Owners’ Loan Corporation / Federal Housing Administration)

    • HOLC (1933)

      • Provided loans to homeowners to prevent foreclosures

      • Helped refinance mortgages at lower interest rates

    • FHA (1934)

      • Insured loans for home construction and repairs

      • Made homeownership more accessible by reducing down payments

  • PWA (Public Works Administration)

    • Fund large-scale public infrastructure projects to create jobs and stimulate the economy

    • Schools, hospitals, bridges, dams (e.g., Hoover Dam), and highways

    • Provided jobs and improved infrastructure across the country

  • IRA (Indian Reorganization Act) 

    • Reverse the assimilation policies of the Dawes Act and restore Native American sovereignty

    • Ended the allotment of tribal lands

    • Promoted self-government and cultural preservation

    • Strengthened Native American autonomy and culture

  • CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) 

    • program hiring young men to plant trees and manage conservation efforts, most of the paycheck sent home to families

  • RFC (Reconstruction Finance Corporation)

    • Provided financial support to state and local governments.

    • Gave loans to banks, railroads, and other businesses.

    • Helped fund New Deal programs by providing capital.

  • WPA (Works Progress Administration)

    • Part of the Second New Deal, the largest works project.

    • Provided millions of jobs, ranging from construction to artistic projects.

    • Funded public buildings, roads, and bridges.

  • CWA (Civil Works Administration)

    • Temporary work program (only lasted about a year).

    • Hired people for construction projects like roads, schools, and parks.

  • REA (Rural Electrification Administration)

    • Focused on bringing electricity to rural communities.

    • Improved quality of life and farming productivity.

  • FCA (Farm Credit Administration)

    • Offered low-interest loans to struggling farmers.

  • Helped many farmers avoid foreclosure during the Depression.

  • SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)

    • Oversaw and regulated the stock market.

    • Designed to restore investor confidence and prevent future financial crises.

  • FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

    • Guaranteed bank deposits up to a certain amount.

    • Aimed to restore public confidence in the banking system.