Alphabet Agencies of the New Deal

TVA

The Tennessee Valley authority.

Contracted the building of many hydroelectric dams across the state of Tennessee which provided jobs for many.

These dams also provided cheap electricity once they were completed and jobs needed for working the dam were provided.

The dams also controlled areas of water that prevented some farming which stimulated the agricultural industry, providing a greater yield.

NRA

The National Recovery Administration.

This improved the working conditions of many in industry and made child labour illegal. It also gave all workers the right to fairer wages and the right to join a trade union.

Many industries had codes of practice implemented on them but the NRA was eventually declared unlawful by the Supreme Court.

AAA

The Agricultural Adjustments Administration

This paid farmers to reduce the quantity of products they produced to reduce overproduction.

This reduced supply and increased prices to provide a better profit and therefore quality of life for American farmers.

There was heavy criticism as food was destroyed whilst many were starving in the Hoovervilles of the country.  

FERA

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration.

$500 million was provided for the administration which was divided equally among the states to help the unemployed, however only half was initially given with the other being provided once the initial payment had be allocated to relief.

This was popular as it represented how Government funds were being directly allocated to the people as relief. Some state Governments did not consider spending more and believed that some poor people did not deserve help.

CCC

The Civilian Conservation Corporation.

This provided around 3 million jobs by employing men from 17-24 in the national parks to plant trees and contribute to the quality and preservation of the environment. They dealt with forest fires and installed telephone lines to remote areas. 

Criticism involved the support for mainly white men and the corporation did not benefit minorities.

CWA

The Civil Works Administration.

This was set up to provide emergency relief during the winter. 4 million jobs were provided but it was eventually shut down. FERA continued much of its work.

HOLC

The Home Owners Loan Corporation.

This gave loans to home buyers to attempt to stimulate the housing market. The mortgages were given at a low rate and it was popular as 300000 loans were given out in one year.

WPA

The Works Progress Administration 

This was set up to provide 2 million jobs for the unemployed. It focused on building but was not permitted to compete with private companies for building contracts so many jobs involved public works such a the construction of schools.

Workers were only employed for one year and the WPA carried out jobs that would not have been completed by private companies such as historical surveys.

PWA

The Public Works Administration.

$3.3 billion of government money was spent on completing public works such as schools and roads. The idea was that this would stimulate industries such as the concrete industry which would have an effect on other industries.

Hundreds of thousands of people gained jobs and 13,000 schools were built.

The Social Security Act

This provided pensions for over 65s and also unemployment benefits. Due to the large expense of the scheme, it had to be self-funding and so employers and employees contributed to the scheme. The unemployment benefits were very low with a maximum of $18 a week for 16 week but this did help.