How Did Franklin Delano Roosevelt Help The Young Unemployed?

US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt (elected in 1932) set up the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to provide work for unmarried 18-25 year old men from the cities whose parents were unemployed. It was run by the US Army and the US Forestry Service which set up work camps in America's woods and forests. By July 1933, 3,000 young men had served in the CCC.

The men in CCC camps were given food, clothing and shelter - either in huts or tents - in return for their work. They also got pocket money of one dollar a day, but had to send a dollar home to their parents each month. The CCC did numerous jobs including making reservoirs and fishponds, building look-out posts in forests, treating tree diseases like Dutch Elm disease, clearing up benches and camping grounds, restoring historic battlefields and planting trees for forests.

However, these were not real jobs as they were not properly paid for doing them. But they were useful tasks and the youngsters gained valuable skills and self-confidence.

Add Comment

Report