The New Deal, implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression, aimed to provide relief, recovery, and reform to the American economy. While many Americans benefited from the New Deal programs, certain groups did not see significant improvements in their circumstances.
African Americans: Despite some efforts to include African Americans in New Deal programs, racial discrimination persisted. Many programs were administered at the state and local levels, where Jim Crow laws and segregation were prevalent. As a result, African Americans often received fewer benefits and faced unequal treatment.
Women: Although some New Deal programs provided jobs for women, they were often limited to low-paying, traditionally female roles. Additionally, many programs were designed with male breadwinners in mind, leaving single women and female-headed households with fewer opportunities for support.
Farmworkers and Domestic Workers: Agricultural and domestic workers were excluded from key New Deal legislation, such as the Social Security Act and the National Labor Relations Act. This exclusion left many of these workers without access to unemployment insurance, pensions, and other benefits.
Native Americans: While the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 aimed to reverse some of the harmful policies of the past, Native Americans continued to face significant challenges. Many remained in poverty, and the New Deal did little to address the systemic issues affecting Native American communities.
Small Farmers and Sharecroppers: The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) aimed to raise crop prices by paying farmers to reduce production. However, this often benefited large landowners more than small farmers and sharecroppers, who sometimes lost their livelihoods as a result of reduced planting.
In summary, while the New Deal brought relief to many Americans, it did not equally benefit all groups. African Americans, women, farmworkers, domestic workers, Native Americans, and small farmers were among those who did not fully benefit from the New Deal’s programs.