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Message:: [QUOTE="Hiddendragon, post: 2376154, member: 25270"]The New Deal did not end the depression, but that doesn't mean it was ineffective either. FDR tried many programs between his inauguration and WWII, some more effective than others. What they did was slow the decline and aid in the recovery. As with our current recovery, the situation improved more for some than for others. But when FDR became president the country seemed to be on a downward spiral and a substantial percentage of the population felt like they had no hope. People were literally starving and living on the streets or in their cars. FDR's programs gave many a source of income that allowed them to survive. They got people working again, put money in their pockets that they were able to spend, so eventually employers would have more business and be able to hire again. They stopped bank failures so people could be confident in saving again. It was only World War II that ended the depression by bringing about full employment for defense spending, but Roosevelt's policies are perhaps what prevented us from ending up like Germany or Italy with a hopeless population rallying behind a strong man who promises to restore prosperity by any means necessary. We were able to do it with deficit spending. Seems like a good tradeoff to me.[/QUOTE]