he Civilian Conservation Corps

Question

The Great Depression was a period in the United States following a stock market crash. One of the results of the crash was widespread unemployment. At the same time, the people in many states were also suffering from the effects of drought and dust storms. The passage below explains a program that began after these events.

Origin of the Corps
1 Franklin D. Roosevelt became President of the United States in 1933 in the middle of the Great Depression. The economic "crash" on October 24, 1929, had led to an 89 percent decline in the stock market. To make matters worse, many in the country had lived through the Dust Bowl and its severe drought. The country's jobless rate had reached over 25 percent, and nearly 50 percent of the children in the country lacked adequate food, shelter, and medical care. President Roosevelt promised to get people back to work. He also had a long-standing interest in conserving the country's national resources. In a 1931 speech, Roosevelt expressed this interest by stating, "The green slopes of our forested hills lured our first settlers here and furnished them the materials of a happy life. They and their descendants were a little careless with that asset."


2 Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was designed to help resolve the nation's problems. The CCC was Roosevelt's brainchild, and it was often known as his "pet." The program provided unskilled, manual labor jobs for young men who could not find work during the Great Depression. These jobs focused on conservation and development of natural resources.

The Men of the Corps
3 In 1933, thousands of young men came to serve in Franklin D. Roosevelt's conservation corps. They came from all over America--from the cities, small towns, and farms. These men opted for long days and hard, dirty work, living in quasi-military camps far from home. They earned money to send to their needy families, received three square meals a day, and escaped from idle purposelessness by contributing to the renewal and beautification of the country.

4 When they arrived at their camps, enrollees received two sets of blue denim work clothes. They also received a renovated army olive drab uniform for dress purposes. At first, the uniforms tended to be too large for the thin, young enrollees. Because Roosevelt believed that shoddy clothes weakened morale, he ordered a special, spruce-green dress uniform for the men. The CCC members followed a tight, military-style schedule, and began working in camps all over the United States. They earned $30 a month. They each received $5 for themselves and were required to send the rest of their earnings home to their impoverished families.

5 The men usually arrived at their camps malnourished and hungry. Otis Miller was one example. He came from a large family of sharecroppers who lived on one rabbit a day. Otis joined the CCC before he turned 16 years old. He described the men's situation as follows: "We were about 100 pounds when we arrived. It wasn't long before we gained 15 pounds apiece. You could eat a full meal there."

6 The full daily schedule emphasized on-the-job training. The goal of the training was to produce efficient, intelligent workers who might find gainful employment elsewhere after leaving the CCC. About 10 percent left that summer, but when the time came for a second enrollment, about 175,000 of the original men renewed for a second six-month term.

Impact of the Program
7 The program, sometimes known as "Roosevelt's Tree Army," ended as the nation entered World War II. The pioneering group of CCC men had helped to launch one of the most imaginative and popular government programs in American history. More than 2.6 million men had served in more than 4,500 camps across the country. The men had planted over 3 billion trees and had built over 125,000 miles of roads and trails. The forests the men planted helped to reduce erosion and provided some shelter from the winds of the Dust Bowl. The men also pioneered procedures to conserve and restore forests and agricultural lands.

8 Another remarkable accomplishment was the program's effect on the lives of young men, changing them to confident, well-prepared men who would later capably defend the United States during World War II. The trees will undoubtedly outlive their planters, but Americans should remember the young men who provided one of the few positive and colorful chapters in the drab decade of the Depression. They left a more beautiful, healthier environment and provided methods to preserve some of our nation's greatest resources.

CCC workers at Mammoth Cave National Park, 1938

Answer 1

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a pivotal program initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression to address widespread unemployment and promote conservation efforts across the United States. Launched in 1933, the CCC provided manual labor jobs primarily for young men, focusing on the conservation of natural resources and the development of public lands.

Origin of the Corps

The CCC was conceived amidst dire economic circumstances, with the stock market crashing in 1929 and resulting in significant job losses—over 25% of the labor force was unemployed. Additionally, the Dust Bowl exacerbated the situation, causing devastating droughts in many regions. Roosevelt, who had a longstanding interest in environmental conservation, saw an opportunity to tackle these issues head-on. He believed in the importance of national resources and the role they played in the country’s prosperity, emphasizing the need for conservation in a 1931 speech.

The Men of the Corps

The CCC attracted thousands of young men from diverse backgrounds, including urban dwellers, rural inhabitants, and farmers, all seeking work and a means to support their families. Enrollees lived in military-style camps, working long hours in challenging conditions. They received uniforms and meals, allowing them to regain health and contribute to their family's well-being. Most enrollees were malnourished upon arrival, but the program helped many, like Otis Miller, improve their physical health through regular meals and rigorous work.

Impact of the Program

Running until the onset of World War II, the CCC left an indelible mark on both the environment and the young men involved. Over 2.6 million participants served, planting more than 3 billion trees and constructing extensive road networks. The program not only addressed immediate economic needs but strove to instill skills and confidence in its enrollees, many of whom later served effectively in the military during the war.

Through these efforts, the CCC transformed lives and landscapes, creating a legacy of improved environmental stewardship and resource management—a bright spot in the difficult period of the Great Depression. The trees planted during this period continue to benefit the environment today, reminding Americans of the enduring impact of Roosevelt's vision for conservation and economic recovery.