The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) in response to the Great Depression.

FDR was elected in 1932 on a promise of a 'new deal for the American people.'

The programs focused on the '3 Rs': Relief for the unemployed and poor, Recovery of the economy, and Reform of the financial system to prevent a repeat crisis.

Key 'Relief' programs included the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which provided jobs for young men, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which employed millions in public works projects.

Key 'Recovery' programs included the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) to help farmers and the National Recovery Administration (NRA) to regulate industry.

Key 'Reform' programs included the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to protect bank deposits, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to regulate the stock market, and the Social Security Act.

The Social Security Act of 1935 was a landmark law that established a national system of retirement pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid for dependent children.

The New Deal significantly expanded the size and scope of the federal government.

It did not fully end the Great Depression—World War II did that—but it provided crucial relief and restored public confidence.

The New Deal created a new political coalition and shaped American liberalism for decades.