Texes Social Studies Content Practice Exam

Which of the following statements about the New Deal is true?

1. Preside over the birth of the modern labor movement

2. End the Great Depression

3. Transform the Democratic Party into the dominant force in American politics for the next thirty years

4. Construct the foundations of the federal welfare system

The correct answer is: End the Great Depression

The New Deal encompassed a series of programs and reforms introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression. While there were significant impacts from these initiatives, the statement that the New Deal ended the Great Depression is not entirely accurate, as the economic recovery was a complex process that took several years and was affected by various factors, including World War II. In contrast, the New Deal is recognized for presiding over the birth of the modern labor movement, fundamentally transforming labor relations and enabling workers to organize more effectively. Additionally, it indeed transformed the Democratic Party, establishing it as a dominant political force and reshaping its base to include a broader coalition of labor unions, urban voters, and other constituencies. Furthermore, the New Deal laid the groundwork for the federal welfare system, including Social Security and various other support programs aimed at assisting the unemployed and impoverished. This created a lasting legacy in terms of how the federal government interacted with its citizens regarding economic support. Thus, while many statements about the New Deal highlight its significant long-term impact on American society and politics, the assertion regarding the complete end of the Great Depression does not capture the nuanced economic context of the era.