GED Social Studies TestU.S. HistoryMedium
Which of the following was a significant outcome of the New Deal programs implemented during the Great Depression?
- AA permanent shift in the role of the federal government in the economy.
- BA significant reduction in the national debt.
- CA complete end to the Great Depression by 1935.
- DThe immediate nationalization of all major industries.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. A permanent shift in the role of the federal government in the economy.
While the New Deal did not end the Great Depression (WWII spending is largely credited for that), it fundamentally changed the relationship between the federal government and the American people, establishing a precedent for government intervention in social and economic affairs.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. New Deal spending, while necessary, actually increased the national debt, as the government invested heavily in relief, recovery, and reform programs.
- C. The New Deal significantly alleviated suffering but did not end the Great Depression; WWII spending is generally credited with full economic recovery.
- D. The New Deal did not nationalize all major industries; it involved significant regulation and public works, but not outright government ownership of private enterprise.
New Deal
A series of programs and reforms in the United States between 1933 and 1939, enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, designed to combat the Great Depression.
- Focused on 'Relief, Recovery, and Reform'.
- Included programs like the CCC, WPA, Social Security Act.
- Significantly expanded the power and scope of the federal government.
Memory trick: New Deal, new government appeal.