Works Progress Administration Presented by: Michael Presutti Timothy Iversen Ryan Replogle

Enacting the WPA Congress funds WPA under New Deal Enacted with passage of ERAA (1935) Headed by Harry Hopkins WPA initially intended as FERA extension Roosevelt—economic recovery through employment programs WPA becomes largest public works project

Projects funded WPA legacy—public recreation buildings WPA Road Project 1935 priority—improve infrastructure 1936 priority—public facilities 1937 priority—agricultural improvements WW2 approaches—defense related WPA projects

Employment WPA Goal Jobs for unemployed until economic recovery Payment based on three factors 1) region of country 2) degree of urbanization 3) individual skill Pays local wage Set Minimum/ Maximum work hours Min; 30 hr/week Max; 40 hr/week

Effectiveness WPA employed more than 8.5 million Constructed 110,000 libraries, schools, hospitals Created permanent public works Gave people sense of purpose & hope Created jobs & brought industry to region Not deemed unconstitutional

Role of Government Increase in federal spending The WPA cost the government 11 billion Increased involvement in everyday lives Employed over 8.5 million Americans

FDR’s Letter on Appropriation for WPA FDR recommends additional appropriation for 1937 Asks Congress to provide $790,000,000 Present WPA appropriation ($1,425,000,000) insufficient Demonstrates costs WPA needs to function Exemplifies “Deficit Spending” platform of FDR

Termination of the WPA War production for WW2 ended unemployment WPA had served its purpose Congress terminated WPA in 1943 Legacy WPA projects in every US town

Works Cited Britannica. "Works Progress Administration (WPA) (United States History)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 21 Nov Franklin D. Roosevelt. “Letter on Appropriations for the W.P.A. January 11, 1937.” The American Presidency Project. Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, Web. 2 Dec Taylor, Nick. “Works Progress Administration.” New York Times. (2008): n. page. Web. 2 Dec WGBH. "American Experience: TV's Most-watched History Series." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 21 Nov "Works Progress Administration." Works Progress Administration. Lilly Library's History Collections, n.d. Web. 21 Nov