ACT Practice: New Deal

The New Deal, a series of economic programs and reforms introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s, aimed to address the challenges of the Great Depression. This multifaceted approach included relief for the unemployed, recovery of the economy, and reform to prevent future economic crises.

Write a unified, coherent essay in which you evaluate multiple perspectives on the relative success of the New Deal in the United States. In your essay, be sure to:

• analyze and evaluate the perspectives given
• state and develop your own perspective on the issue
• explain the relationship between your perspective and those given

Your perspective may be in full agreement with any of the others, in partial agreement, or wholly different. Whatever the case, support your ideas with logical reasoning and detailed, persuasive examples.

Perspectives to consider:

• Perspective 1: The New Deal was overreach of executive and legislative power.
• Perspective 2: New Deal programs were successful at providing immediate relief and recovery, and lasting reform.
• Perspective 3: The New Deal did not end the Great Depression on its own.