http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs In the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt launched an ambitious series of social programs and legislation known as the "New Deal," designed to lift the United States out of the economic downturn of the Great Depression. en Copyright 2013, History.com Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT History.com 2013-05-19T04:00:00Z en Copyright 2013, History.com http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo1 The largest of the New Deal agencies was the Works Progress Administration, which spent more than $4 billion dollars on highway, road and street projects. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo1 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo2 Built at the height of the Great Depression, New York City's Triborough Bridge (now known as the RFK Bridge) was one of the largest and most expensive WPA projects. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo2 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo3 Between 1935 and 1943, the WPA provided almost 8 million jobs. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo3 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo4 Large-scale public housing projects in New York and elsewhere were funded by the WPA. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo4 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo5 The WPA spent more than $1 billion on public building construction across the country. By 1941, the government had spent nearly $12 billion on WPA projects. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo5 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo6 The WPA spent more than $1 billion on social welfare projects, including sewing projects for women and school lunch programs. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo6 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo7 An offshoot of the WPA, the Federal Art Project (FAP) employed thousands of out-of-work artists to create paintings, posters and murals for government buildings. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo7 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo8 FAP artists created more than 130,000 murals, sculptures and paintings. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo8 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo9 The WPA and other New Deal agencies were not without their critics, who claimed the government was wasting federal money on unnecessary projects. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo9 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo10 The most controversial of the WPA departments was the Federal Theatre Project, which employed thousands of artists, writers and directors, but came under heavy criticism for its politically themed productions. The FTP was dismantled in 1939. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo10 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo11 The Public Works Administration (PWA) focused on large-scale construction projects, including bridges and dams. In 1934, work began on the Grand Coulee and Boneville Dams along the Columbia River. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo11 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo12 Hoover Dam (originally Boulder Dam) was built at the height of the Great Depression, employing a total of 21,000 men during its five years of construction. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo12 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo13 Created by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933, the CCC put more than 3 million young men to work during the Great Depression. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo13 http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo14 The watchtower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps on Harney Peak, the highest point in South Dakota. http://www.history.com/photos/new-deal-programs/photo14