How did Americans interpret the causes of the economic crisis in the 1930s, and how did the government respond to it? How were these government responses received by the American people? How did the New Deal welfare state shape the meanings and realities of freedom in the United States? To what extent did the New Deal shape modern America?

The Great Depression (1929–1939) was the worst economic crisis in the history of the United States. It was also the greatest threat to the nation since the Civil War (1861–1865). During the Depression, America's unemployment rate surpassed 20 percent, and suffering was widespread.
One response to the Depression which was popular with many segments of American society was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930. The onset of the Depression during the previous year made many Americans believe that higher tariffs were needed to protect American agricultural and industrial products from foreign competition. However, this tariff exacerbated the effects of the economic downturn, and president Franklin D. Roosevelt reversed it in 1934.
The presidential election of 1932 was the first major opportunity for Americans to voice their displeasure with the economy. The electorate handed Franklin D. Roosevelt an overwhelming victory. Most voters blamed the incumbent, Herbert Hoover, for the Depression's disastrous effects. Hoover's Republican party had suffered losses in the 1930 Congressional elections, but the 1932 vote gave FDR an opportunity to implement his far-reaching New Deal program.
The New Deal, which began in 1933, gave hope to millions of Americans. The banking system was shored up. Many Americans were put back to work through such programs as the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). Major construction projects, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, were completed during the New Deal. Although the New Deal did not end the Depression, it mitigated the public's suffering, and FDR was reelected three times.