The Great Depression cast a long, dark shadow over America in the 1930s, leaving millions jobless, destitute, and desperate for hope. In response, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt launched a series of ambitious programs known collectively as the New Deal. A cornerstone of this monumental effort, particularly during its more aggressive "Second New Deal" phase, was the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Established by presidential order on May 6, 1935, and later renamed the Work Projects Administration in 1939, the WPA became a lifeline for countless American families.

Its primary mission was clear: to combat the devastating unemployment rates by providing paid jobs for jobseekers, most of whom were men without formal education who had seen their livelihoods vanish. This wasn't merely "the dole" or public assistance; it was work relief designed to restore dignity, reinforce the American work ethic, and keep vital skills sharp, as historian Robert D. Leininger aptly observed.

The WPA's Ambitious Scope and Funding

The sheer scale of the WPA's undertaking was unprecedented. Its initial appropriation in 1935 was a staggering $4.9 billion, a sum that represented approximately 6.7 percent of the nation's entire Gross Domestic Product that year. To put that into perspective, it amounted to about $15 for every person in the United States at a time when the average annual income was significantly lower. Spearheading this massive endeavor was Harry Hopkins, one of President Roosevelt's most trusted advisors and a passionate advocate for relief efforts. Under his guidance, the WPA not only provided crucial employment but also embarked on a monumental national infrastructure-building campaign.

Across the country, WPA workers constructed or improved more than 620,000 miles (over 1,000,000 kilometers) of streets and roads, built over 10,000 bridges, and contributed to the development of numerous airports and public housing projects. Parks, schools, hospitals, and other vital public buildings sprang up, transforming communities and leaving a lasting legacy. While the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was a distinct, groundbreaking New Deal agency focused on regional development, the WPA’s many large-scale infrastructure projects across the nation certainly shared a similar ambition and impact, representing an extraordinary period of national construction.

A Lifeline for Millions: Employment and Dignity

At its peak in 1938, the WPA provided paid employment for an astounding three million Americans, a testament to the depth of the crisis and the breadth of the program's reach. This included not only men and women in various projects but also youth, who found opportunities through a separate but closely affiliated division, the National Youth Administration (NYA). From its inception in 1935 until its liquidation in 1943, the WPA employed a remarkable 8.5 million individuals—a figure roughly equivalent to half the population of New York City at the time. While hourly wages were typically set below prevailing industry standards to ensure maximum employment and avoid competing with private sector jobs, the WPA's goal was not to achieve full employment for the entire nation. Instead, it focused on the crucial objective of providing at least one paid job for every family whose primary breadwinner had endured long-term unemployment, offering a vital safety net and a path to self-sufficiency.

Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Federal Project Number One

While often remembered for its vast construction projects, the WPA also championed a truly innovative and culturally significant initiative known as Federal Project Number One. This unique program employed thousands of artists, musicians, writers, actors, and directors, proving that "work relief" could extend far beyond manual labor. It comprised five distinct components:

• The Federal Writers’ Project (FWP): Employed writers to create state guidebooks, local histories, and the invaluable "Slave Narratives," which captured the firsthand accounts of former slaves in the American South, providing an irreplaceable archive for understanding American history.
• The Historical Records Survey (HRS): Focused on documenting and preserving historical records across the nation, preventing the loss of crucial archival materials.
• The Federal Theatre Project (FTP): Brought live theatrical performances to communities nationwide, often in areas that had never experienced professional theater. These groups toured extensively, putting on over 225,000 performances and fostering a vibrant cultural scene.
• The Federal Music Project (FMP): Employed musicians, composers, and music teachers, offering free concerts and music education to the public, enriching lives during a time of hardship.
• The Federal Art Project (FAP): Commissioned public art, including murals, sculptures, and art education programs, making art accessible to everyday Americans and documenting the era through a creative lens.

These cultural projects were not merely a means of employment; they played a pivotal role in shaping American identity, preserving heritage, and making arts accessible to a broad public. Additionally, WPA-funded archaeological investigations were instrumental in rediscovering pre-Columbian Native American cultures and contributed significantly to the development of professional archaeology in the United States.

Partnerships, Liquidation, and Lasting Legacy

The WPA operated as a federal program, but its success hinged on strong cooperation with state and local governments. These local sponsors typically bore 10–30% of the project costs, often providing land, equipment like trucks, and supplies, while the WPA covered the vital wages for its workers and the salaries of its supervisors. This collaborative model allowed the WPA to effectively integrate its efforts into existing community needs and sometimes even absorb state and local relief programs that had originated under earlier New Deal initiatives like the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) or the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA).

The era of the WPA, however, drew to a close with the advent of World War II. As the nation mobilized for war, unemployment plummeted, and the demand for labor surged in defense industries. Consequently, the Works Progress Administration was formally liquidated on June 30, 1943, having served its crucial purpose during one of the most challenging periods in American history. It left behind a tangible legacy in the form of countless public works and an intangible one in the renewed spirit of a nation that had learned to rebuild itself, brick by brick, and stroke by stroke.

Frequently Asked Questions About the WPA

What was the Works Progress Administration (WPA)?

The WPA was a major American New Deal agency established in 1935 to combat mass unemployment during the Great Depression by employing millions of jobseekers on various public works projects and cultural initiatives.

When and why was the WPA established?

It was set up by presidential order on May 6, 1935, as a key component of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Second New Deal. Its purpose was to provide paid work for the unemployed, thereby stimulating the economy, restoring dignity, and improving national infrastructure.

Who did the WPA primarily employ?

The WPA primarily employed millions of jobseekers, mostly men without formal education, but also included women and youth (through the National Youth Administration) across a wide range of projects, from construction to the arts.

What types of projects did the WPA undertake?

The WPA built extensive public infrastructure, including over 620,000 miles of roads, 10,000 bridges, numerous parks, schools, airports, and public buildings. It also famously funded artistic and cultural projects through Federal Project Number One, employing writers, artists, musicians, and actors.

What was Federal Project Number One?

Federal Project Number One was a unique WPA initiative that provided employment for artists, musicians, writers, actors, and directors. It consisted of five distinct programs: the Federal Writers’ Project, the Historical Records Survey, the Federal Theatre Project, the Federal Music Project, and the Federal Art Project, which created a wealth of cultural works and historical documentation.

When did the WPA conclude its operations?

The WPA was liquidated on June 30, 1943. Its dissolution was primarily due to the dramatic decrease in unemployment caused by the economic boom and mobilization efforts during World War II.

What was the "Second New Deal"?

The "Second New Deal" refers to a more assertive phase of President Roosevelt's New Deal programs, beginning in 1935. It included major initiatives like the WPA, Public Works Administration (PWA), and Social Security Act, focusing on more direct government intervention to provide relief, recovery, and reform, aiming to pull the country out of the Great Depression and prevent future economic crises.