The New Deal, implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression, aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform to the American economy and society. However, several groups gained few benefits from the New Deal programs:
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African Americans: While some New Deal programs provided relief, many African Americans did not benefit proportionately. They often faced discrimination in labor practices and were excluded from many New Deal jobs. Additionally, policies like the Social Security Act initially excluded agricultural and domestic workers, which disproportionately affected Black workers.
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Women: Although the New Deal included some initiatives aimed at helping women, such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the National Youth Administration (NYA), many programs were dominated by male workers. Moreover, societal norms of the time often relegated women to lower-paying jobs, and some New Deal agencies discouraged women from working to make room for men.
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Poor Rural Farmers: While programs like the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) sought to assist farmers, many poor and marginalized farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers, remained without significant support. Some benefits were not equitably distributed, and wealthier farmers often received more assistance.
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Immigrants and Non-English Speakers: Many New Deal programs were not accessible to immigrants and people who did not speak English well. Discrimination and language barriers limited opportunities for these groups to benefit from the various relief and recovery initiatives.
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Native Americans: The New Deal did include some programs aimed at improving the conditions of Native Americans, particularly through the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of 1934, but overall, Native Americans faced significant barriers to accessing the benefits of the New Deal. Many tribes were not fully recognized, and the federal government maintained a paternalistic approach that limited true self-determination.
Overall, while the New Deal had significant positive impacts for many Americans, its benefits were unevenly distributed, and several groups, particularly those marginalized by race, gender, or economic status, gained few advantages from its initiatives.