Roosevelt, responded to the problems of the Great Depression in many different ways. The utilization of the "three R's," (Recovery, Relief, Reform) as well as establishment of "Alphabet Soup," were two of the main responses to the needs of the Depression. Also, the administration kept the needs of all the people in mind, in legislation and creation of new policy. These responses were effective and valuable in aiding the fallen economy and changing the role of the federal government.
The "three R's" utilized in the creation of policy and legislation were fundamentally, the best and most effective way to create aid for the failing economy. Recovery, the first of the "three R's" was established to create immediate and short-term relief. The programs such as the "100 day Congress" and other acts established during this time were set in the period named the "1st New Deal," ranging from 1933-1935. The second of the "three R's," Relief, focused on more time consuming, yet short-term goals. Programs established as "relief" included (but are not limited to) the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), Social Security Act (Document E), and the Civil Works Administration (CWA). These programs (and others) created effective relief for unemployment, Senior Citizens, banking, industry, labor, and agriculture. The final of the "three R's," Reform, dealt more with longer term goals. These goals created legislation and programs for governmental and system change. These goals were introduced as "ones of slow evolution" (Document C), and were not to be revolutionary. In a review written on the New Deal, in 1940, results were described as " more efficient organization of the whole executive department," (Document H). Hence, reform created and established for the long run.
"Alphabet Soup," a phrase used to describe the plethora of changes and reforms created during the New Deal. Alphabet soup was extremely effective in creating useful and lasting change.
