Work Relief: The PWA and WPA

Work Relief: The PWA and WPA

Franklin D. Roosevelt assumed control of the country in a very economically unstable situation. He claimed this was an effect of selfish businessmen and big businesses in America. FDR utilized most of his campaign speeches to criticize business and also tell the American people how he planned to the fix the issues of unemployment and failing economy. Roosevelt strongly believed that simply granting citizens relief without them having to do anything for it would only dampen American spirit. Instead, he offed options for work relief such which built on the American ideals of hard work and determination.

In 1933, Roosevelt passed the New Deal, a series of programs dedicated to the relief, recovery, and reform of America. As part of the New Deal came a work program called the PWA or Public Works Administration. The purpose of the PWA was to give jobs to the unemployed while also rebuilding and expanding both local and national infrastructure. At the same time, the PWA renewed the American spirit of hard work and pride. Workers in the PWA were paid to construct roads, dams, parks, bridges, hospitals, and schools. The PWA spent over $6 billion on the hiring of previously unemployed workers  by the time it was disbanded.

In May of 1935, another public works program from the New Deal called the WPA or Works Progress Administration was formed. Acting as a worthy competitor to the Public Works Administration, the WPA employed 8.5 million workers and had a total budget exceeding $10 billion. Despite the statistics suggesting that the WPA was more successful, it was also involved in more controversy. The program was accused of hiring workers that were too unskilled as well as some believing it to be unconstitutional due to its sometimes unreasonable sponsoring of projects.