The United States Office of Public Works ( 1935 - 1943 ) is an independent federal agency created in 1935 at the initiative of the President of the United States , Franklin Delano Roosevelt , and has become a leading force in the employment system for millions of unemployed (mainly unskilled men) during the New Economic Course [ 1] . By socially significant work was meant the construction of public buildings, the laying of roads, the construction of stadiums, dams, airfields.
| US Public Works Office | |
|---|---|
| Works progress administration | |
 Logo of the Office of Public Works, 1936 | |
| Type of organization | U.S. Federal Office of Public Works |
| Official language | English |
| Executives | |
| Base | |
| Established | June 30, 1935 |
| Liquidation | |
| December 4, 1943 | |
Content
History
Speaking to the US Congress in January 1935, the closest ally of F. D. Roosevelt, Harry Hopkins announced that the Administration intends to involve up to 3.5 million people from among those whose economic condition was especially dire. Based on the sum of annual investments of $ 1,200 per person ($ 20,700, in accordance with the current price level), Hopkins requested and received $ 4 billion ($ 69 billion in current prices).
To be eligible for individual participation in the project, the applicant must have been a U.S. citizen at least 18 years old, able-bodied, unemployed, and also have a certificate of need, confirmed by the local branch of the agency.
Agency Composition
- In the years 1935-1939, the Administration was led by Harry Lloyd Hopkins .
Summary
In total, the number of people employed in public works organized by the Public Works Administration ( WPA ) in the second half of the 1930s and early 1940s reached 4 million people in the United States. With family members employed in government jobs, up to 20 million Americans have improved their living conditions. Over one million kilometers of roads and tens of thousands of bridges were built across the country. In almost every community in the United States, a new school, bridge, or park has been created with the help of the Office. In the framework of the project, in particular, the suburban residence of US President Camp David (1935-1938), the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (1933-1937), the Griffith Observatory , Los Angeles (1933-1935) were built.
Critics accused the WPA of thoughtlessly spraying public funds used as hidden unemployment benefits. They also reproached the initiators of the program in their attempt to support the local bosses of the Democratic Party and the army of voters loyal to them.
However, the stated goal of the program was consistently realized: new jobs were created for a huge number of those who suffered from the effects of the Great Depression. By participating in community service work, disadvantaged Americans could maintain their work skills and gain self-esteem. In turn, the economy was stimulated by the fact that new workers grew purchasing power [2] .
Notes
- ↑ According to official figures, in 1933 there were 14 million unemployed in the United States.
- ↑ Works Progress Administration (WPA ) . Encyclopædia Britannica. Date of treatment February 25, 2016.
Links
- Roosevelt's New Deal: Experience and Lessons . Historicus.ru. Date of treatment February 25, 2016.