Franklin Delano Roosevelt came into office in 1933 with the weight of the world on his shoulders, or rather, the cournty's economy. Being President in teh throes of what would later be known as teh Great Depression was an enormous task that would require FDR to find innovative ways to deal wtith the United States' growing problem, and that he did. It was during this time taht his legendary New Deal would come into play. One of the most innovative, yet less remembered programs of this New Deal was the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It was created in 1935 as a government agency with the purpose of curbing unemployment. Although it was often criticized as a waste of the taxpayer's money, the WPA employed over 8.5 million people who would have otherwise been on relief. Despite all its accomplishments, critics often condemned it as a "haven for radicals", most likely because it employed people of all kinds, some which did indeed have readical ideals. However, one thing is certain: the WPA proved to raise worker's morales by providing them with real work instead of a welfare check. Workers were always encouraged to find real employment whenever possible; therefore, the WPA did not directly come in conflict with private enterprises as its critics claimed, but in fact encouraged private enterprises. FDR was sure to include every aspect of his society in his workplan, and in doing so he offered unprecedented opportunity. Franklin D Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration (WPA) creatively encouraged the development of construction, the arts, and the preservation of history.
The majority of the WPA's funding was directed towards construction work. However, these construction projects went past the average office building; they included both utilitarian and recreational projects. There is no doubt that most of the WPA funding was allocated to "bricks-and-mortar" construction, as much as 78% in fact.
