The Great Depression had a heavy negative impact on American cities. Due to this financial crisis, power of governments grew, on both a local and national level started to play a bigger role on society and economics. The national government called upon local government officials to initiate public works projects to remedy the problem of unemployment. In 1931, the Organization on Unemployment Relief was organized “to encourage local communities to care for their jobless citizens” (198). In May of 1933, the Federal Emergency Relief Administrations (FERA) was created which “distributed $500 million to the states for direct relief.” The New Deal, administered by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was also another series of programs that tried to get Americans to spend more money.
Herbert Hoover and FDR and his New Deal definitely gave way to many public works projects which cities spent millions and millions of dollars. According to Chudacoff, “By the end of 1930 the seventy-five largest cities were spending $420 million annually on public works projects.”(p198). Many of these relief projects came from Hoover during his presidency. I feel that he set the country on a direction that FDR followed such as asking citizens to be aware of the situation and help their neighbors. He also wanted to combine the efforts of governments of all levels.
This crisis required cooperation from the entire nation, not just municipal governments. The United States Conference of Mayors met with people of Congress to discuss various issues and ways to resolve them. The national government also provided money to local governments for local projects and also “created new sources of patronage jobs, paid with federal funds but controlled by local leaders” (Chudacoff p210). New York City’s mayor, Fiorello La Guardia used these funds to aid the city in many ways such as starting public works programs, restoring the city’s credit, clearing out slums, and created low rent public housing (Chudacoff p211).
Agreeing with both statement above I also think that the financial input in cities ferderal government try to make many situation better. Many construction jobs was but on hold before the Great Depression with many not even seeing a finish product somewhere in the future. But the govenment providing money to local offical help made jobs which gave many hope. In this time in American history many people lost faith and hope and what the goverment on the federal level was doing was trying to let many know that this was a temporary situation. With the election of Roosevelt made changes that needed to be made was made to help the American citizens. For the coubtry first time did the people see a lack of job, income, and propserity. It was the American dream known to all disappear in ones eyes.
However without the financial aid I dont think New York would of been the same as it is today.