Women of the New Deal
When Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) was inaugurated as president in March 1933, the United States was at the depth of the Great Depression, the most severe economic downturn the nation had ever experienced. Almost immediately President Roosevelt and his advisers presented Congress with a series of programs designed to bring relief, recovery, and reform to the nation's ailing economy. Together these programs became known as the New Deal. As the New Deal legislation passed through Congress, many new government agencies were established to carry out the relief programs. In order to accomplish their goals, these agencies needed experienced relief workers. In America the most experienced relief workers were those trained in social work; and most trained social workers were women. Hence the New Deal agencies brought a wealth of new opportunities for these women, who were highly qualified to deal with the problems of the Great Depression. By the end of 1933 thirty-five women had received appointments to prominent government positions. By the end of the decade, fifty-five women held key positions in government.
A few women had played active roles in government before the 1930s. Since 1921 Grace Abbott (1878–1939) had served as chief of the Children's Bureau in the Department of Labor.
