The year 1929 was the beginning of a depression that changed America forever. The crash of the New York Stock Exchange in October 1929 marked the beginning of the economic disaster known as the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, many banks failed, unemployment rates rose, and people lost faith in the economy. (On the Great Depression) A combination of all these factors led to the downward spiral of the American economy. During this time people needed someone to look to for change and guidance, that person was Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt was elected president in 1932. Once elected, he designed the New Deal programs. These programs were a series of government-funded projects that reduced unemployment, strengthened the value of the dollar, and kept money in circulation. The purpose of the New Deal programs were the 3 R's; relief, recovery and reform. Direct relief and economic recovery were the short-term goals, and financial reform was the long-term goal of New Deal programs. (Big Tent Democract) New Deal programs achieved some of their short-term goals, but never achieved the long-term goal of financial reform. Roosevelt's New Deal did not improve the American economy as many believe. Indeed, the New Deal hurt America in the long run. During the New Deal period of 1933-1939 the national government took control of the United States economy. Our economy was failing and we needed a strong central government to take over in our time of need. Congress passed acts that created new federal agencies and programs proposed by the president in hopes of strengthening our economy. Some of the most important programs were the Federal Housing Administration, the Civilian… the center of the paper… the Great Depression. Modern American Poetry, Website. September 11, 2011. “American Dream.” dictionary.com. Dictionary.com and Web. September 11, 2011Democratic Big Tent. “The New New Deal: Relief, Recovery, and Reform.” Speak to the left. Network. December 2, 2008Folsom, Burton. “2010 versus 1938: Obama and FDR.” History News Network. Network. 7 November 2010 “Keynesian economics”. dictionary.com. Dictionary.com and Web. September 18, 2011Mitchell, Dan. “New Deal Hurts Economy.” International freedom. Network. April 12, 2011 O'Connor, Karen and Larry J. Sabato. Roots and Reforms of American Government.Pearson Education, Inc., 2009. Print.“Socialism.” dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, ndWeb. September 11, 2011Thorndike, Joseph J. “FDR's Unlikely Prescription: Tax Hikes for Recovery” Tax Analysts.Web. 4 December 2008 "Social State". merriam-webster.com. Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia, nd Web. 11 Sep. 2011