Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam 2025 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The New Deal programs, initiated under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform to the economy and American society. One of the most significant outcomes of these programs was the creation of social security systems. The Social Security Act of 1935 established a federal safety net for the elderly, unemployed, and disabled, marking a pivotal shift in the role of the federal government in providing assistance to citizens. This system was designed to reduce poverty among the elderly and provide financial security, thereby laying the groundwork for the modern welfare state.

While the other outcomes highlight notable aspects of the New Deal, they do not reflect its primary achievements. For instance, rather than reducing federal government power, the New Deal greatly expanded the federal government's role in economic and social welfare. Although the unemployment rate did drop as a result of many New Deal jobs programs, it did not achieve immediate recovery from the Great Depression; the economy continued to struggle for several years after the initial programs were implemented. Therefore, the establishment of social security remains one of the most crucial and lasting successes of the New Deal initiatives.