U.S. Social Welfare during the Great Depression

Questions and Answers

What were the five 'Giant Evils' identified in the Beveridge Report?

Neglect, hunger, illness, idleness, and education

Squalor, unemployment, oppression, malnutrition, and disease

Squalor, ignorance, want, idleness, and disease (correct)

Poverty, disease, illiteracy, unemployment, and crime

Which program is designed to provide financial assistance to families with two or more children under 16 years old?

Social Insurance

Public Assistance Program

Family Allowances (correct)

Health Insurance Scheme

According to the Beveridge Report, what was identified as a major contributor to human suffering from destitution?

Insufficient wages and inadequate housing (correct)

Lack of educational opportunities and healthcare access

Overpopulation and obsolete laws

Weak economic policies and high taxes

What significant healthcare institution was influenced by the Beveridge Report?

The National Health Service Signup and view all the answers

What type of insurance includes unemployment insurance and workman’s compensation according to England's Social Security Program?

Social Insurance Signup and view all the answers

Which reform was NOT proposed by the Beveridge Report?

Improvement of the education system Signup and view all the answers

What was the main focus of the state supervision by the Board of Charities and Corrections established in Massachusetts in 1863?

Promoting family and community placements over institutional care Signup and view all the answers

Which special measure was enacted in Illinois in 1903 aimed at aiding specific groups without institutionalization?

Pensions for the blind Signup and view all the answers

Which phase of social welfare development focused on providing aid without the need for institutionalization?

Fourth Phase: Aid without Institutionalization Signup and view all the answers

What significant event related to child welfare occurred in 1909 under President Theodore Roosevelt?

The First White House Conference on Dependent Children Signup and view all the answers

Which body had the power to recommend institutional changes and enforce compliance with statutes during the state supervision phase?

The state board of charities and corrections Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the welfare pattern throughout the nation on the eve of the Great Depression?

A patchwork of local, county, state, and private activities Signup and view all the answers

Which institution type was established specifically for the care of the deaf and deaf-mute?

Specialized institutions for the deaf Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of the establishment of the U.S. Children's Bureau?

Increased focus on children's welfare at state levels Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of the Emergency Relief and Reconstruction Act of 1932?

To assist industry and agriculture while providing funds for state relief work. Signup and view all the answers

Which program was designed specifically to provide job opportunities related to the conservation of natural resources?

Civilian Conservation Corps Signup and view all the answers

How did the Social Security Act of 1935 change the approach to social welfare in the U.S.?

It shifted focus to a more comprehensive system applicable to the entire population. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of social welfare was NOT included in the Economic Opportunity Act passed in 1964?

Military support for veterans Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a component of the Social Security Act?

Tax exemptions for small businesses Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main objectives of the 'War on Poverty' initiative launched in the 1960s?

To address the interconnected issues of poverty through various social programs. Signup and view all the answers

Which example falls under contributory social insurance as defined by the Social Security Act?

Death benefits Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is primarily responsible for managing a large-scale program for public employment projects established during the Great Depression?

Works Progress Administration Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Great Depression in the 1930s led to massive unemployment and necessitated federal intervention in social welfare.
Prior to federal involvement, states were mainly responsible for social welfare services.

Emergency Relief Measures

Emergency Relief and Reconstruction Act (1932): Aimed to assist industry and agriculture, providing states with funds for relief efforts.
Civilian Conservation Corps (1933): Created work opportunities for young men focused on conservation of natural resources.
Federal Emergency Relief Act: Offered grants to states specifically for unemployment relief.
Works Progress Administration (1935): Implemented large-scale relief programs through employment in public projects.

Introduced by President Franklin Roosevelt, this act transitioned aid from limited support to a comprehensive system for the entire population.
Key Components:
- Contributory Social Insurance: Covers death, disability, illness in old age, and retirement.
- Public Assistance: Offers aid for old age, blind individuals, disabled individuals, families with dependent children, and Medicaid.
- Aid to States for Service Programs: Includes services for child welfare and support for physically and mentally challenged children.

War on Poverty (1964)

The Economic Opportunity Act was established to combat poverty through education, manpower training, mental health support, and housing development.

State Services for Special Groups

Programs aimed to provide care for specific populations, alleviating conditions in almshouses.
Focus areas included:
- Care for the insane
- Care for the mentally deficient
- Care for the blind
- Care for the deaf and deaf-mute

State Board of Charities and Corrections

First established in Massachusetts in 1863 to supervise institutional care.
Emphasized community placement for children and adults where feasible.
Held authority to recommend legislative changes and enforce compliance with welfare statutes.

Aid Without Institutionalization

Legislation allowed for direct assistance to special groups without institutional placement.
Notable examples include:
- Pensions for the blind in Illinois (1903)
- Mother’s aid in Missouri (1911)
- Old age pensions in Montana (1923)

Before the Great Depression, welfare services were a mix of local, state, and private efforts, with three-fourths of aid provided publicly but proving insufficient.
William Beveridge: Known as the 'architect of the welfare state'; his 1942 Beveridge Report identified five societal "Giant Evils" prompting the expansion of welfare and establishment of the National Health Service in the UK.

Includes various types of insurance: health, unemployment, old age, invalidity, and workman’s compensation.
Family allowances support families with children under 16, independent of financial circumstances.
Public assistance consists of financial help for those in economic need, alongside individual and institutional services.
Insights from studies debunked punitive poor laws, highlighting that destitution often stems from low wages and inadequate living conditions.

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Description

This quiz explores the emergency relief measures implemented by the U.S. federal government during the Great Depression of the 1930s. It covers key legislation such as the Emergency Relief and Reconstruction Act of 1932 and the shift of social welfare responsibility from states to the federal government. Test your understanding of this critical period in American history.