Civilian Conservation Corps, Essay Example

When Franklin D. Roosevelt assumed his new office as the president of the United States, the nation was experiencing a serious financial and economic crisis that had resulted from the Great Depression. As a result, to save the U.S. economy from sinking, President Roosevelt suggested a lot of new deals, among them being the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). On April 5, 1933, President Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps as a work relief program that was tailored to provide employment to millions of young people who had been affected by the Great Depression (History.Com Editors, 2018). The many youths who would receive employment through this program would help in conserving the environment and help combat the effects of the Great Depression in the U.S. The CCC was also designed to provide modest shelter and food to the needy individuals, build facilities, offer basic skill training and promote the improvement of the public land and reservations (Encyclopedia.Com). President Roosevelt wanted to use the CCC program as an initiative to solve the U.S. problems of degradation of resources and unemployment that had been worsened by the Great Depression.

According to Jason Gauthier (2020), following the Great Depression, the United States had experienced a lot of staggering unemployment, their banking sector suffered a lot of crisis, and their stock market was crashing. The Civilian Conservation Corps played a significant role in getting the U.S. out of the Great Depression. First, the CCC provided a lot of employment opportunities for the many unemployed youths. It enrolled American males aged between 18 to 25 years who were placed under the U.S. army control (Enclopedia.Com). By July 1993, almost 300,000 unmarried young men who previously were not employed were at the time working in the CCC camps developed in the U.S. public land (Jason Gauthier, 2020). Therefore, the issue of unemployment facing the majority of the youths and which had been worsened by the Great Depression received a solution.

The young men who worked under the CCC program in exchange for the labor they offered, received shelter in the camps, daily meals, clothes, and a monthly wage of 30 dollars. From the 30 dollar wage, 25 dollars was sent to their families so that they could cater to their needs (Jason Gauthier, 2020). Through their salary, the CCC ensured that those youths and their families had a steady flow of income to cater for their needs (Enyclopedia.Com). This means that the problem of homelessness that resulted from the Great Depression was also solved. With the majority of the employed youths living in the CCC camps, the number of the homeless was reduced. Further, the income received by the youths was sent to their families so that they would cater to their needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing. Further, the CCC helped in addressing the issue of homelessness by constructing a shelter in more than 800 parks in the U.S. for the nine years it was in operation (History.Com Editors, 2018).

Additionally, the CCC program offered education and training to its recruits. A lot of illiterate people were taught how to read and write, and others were equipped with trade skills that helped them after they were through with the program. The recruits also acquired on the job skills, for example, how to use axes, shovels, building skills, how to operate horse-drawn and mechanically operated equipment, among others. All these skills ensured that the trainees were well equipped to cope with life after the program. Thus, they would venture into businesses that would enable them to cater for their needs and also ensure that there was money circulation in their communities and the entire economy. Through the business and trading activities that the trainees would take part in, the international trade that had collapsed as a result of the Great Depression was revived.

Further, the CCC also promoted the improvement of many small towns that had not been improved previously. According to Enclopedia.com, the town parks, community buildings, and playgrounds were improved, and also there were remarkable buildings and roads developed in the national forests. CCC promoted the building and rebuilding of various rivers and national parks. The CCC programs ensured that the youths provided their labor in such areas and led to their improvement. There was also increased staffing in the U.S. forest, which facilitated the building of different facilities through timber preparation. All these efforts were tailored to ensure that the natural resources were used effectively and productively to improve society’s living status.

The CCC program acted as a way of peace mobilization across the state. President Roosevelt suggested that the unemployed youths be recruited and enrolled in a peacetime army that would be sent out to battle against the destruction and erosion of the country’s natural resources. To promote peaceful coexistence among the communities, the young men came together for various activities. They would play games such as basketball against each other, dance, and other activities. All these activities brought people of different backgrounds together and promoted cohesion. Also, the CCC program granted an opportunity of adventure to many youths as they were equipped with vocational skills that they would use to better their lives and those of their communities.

Though the Civilian Conservation Corps was initially developed with a relief of unemployment as its primary objective, this program was later expanded to create room for other modifications. First was the enlisting of about 15,000 American Indians who experienced economic difficulties so that they could work and protect their heritage (Encyclopedia.com). They undertook various projects that would promote the preservation of their cultural and artistic traditions. The American Indians received payments from their work that helped in executing their projects. Another modification was the enrollment of 25000 local and older men who trained the recruits. This expansion was meant to cater to the demands of the neighboring communities who wanted their unemployed people hired and also the need to provide mentors to the employed youths (Encylopedia.Com). Further, another expansion was made to create room for the enrollment of about 25000 veterans who took part in the Spanish American war without restrictions. All these modifications were made to ensure that the CCC provided as many opportunities to different people to improve their lives without discriminating based on race.

In conclusion, the Civilian Conservation Corps played a significant role in helping the United States recover from the effects of the Great Depression. It was able to employ a larger number of youths and other people who were unemployed. Through the CCC camps, the program was also able to relieve the homeless, which was also addressed through the income the recruited members sent to their families. Further, CCC promoted the preservation of natural resources and prevented the degradation of the environment. The program was also an effective way of promoting cohesion and peaceful coexistence among the people.

References

Encyclopedia.com. Civilian Conservation Corps 1933-1941 | Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 7 May 2020, from https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-and-education-magazines/civilian-conservation-corps-1933-1941.

History.com Editors (2018). History-Civilian Conservation Corps. Retrieved 7 May 2020, from https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/civilian-conservation-corps

Jason Gauthier, P. (2020). March 2020 – History – U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 7 May 2020, from https://www.census.gov/history/www/homepage_archive/2020/march_2020.html