Second New Deal
United States history
Quick Summary
The "Second New Deal" refers to a series of programs and reforms enacted by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration in 1935. By this time, the initial New Deal measures had brought some recovery and hope, but millions remained unemployed, and the economy was still struggling after the stock market crash of 1929.
Key initiatives of the Second New Deal included:
- Social Security Act: Established a crucial economic safety net, providing unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and old-age pensions.1
- Works Progress Administration (WPA): Employed millions of people on public works projects, including infrastructure, conservation, and arts programs.123
- Wagner Act (National Labor Relations Act): Reaffirmed labor's right to collective bargaining and created the National Labor Relations Board to manage labor disputes.12
These programs aimed to provide relief, foster economic recovery, and implement reforms to prevent future economic disasters.2
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