What was the primary aim of the New Deal?

The primary aim of the New Deal was to address the economic hardships of the Great Depression. Implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the severe economic downturn that began in 1929, the New Deal encompassed a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations designed to stimulate economic recovery, provide relief to the unemployed, and reform the financial system to prevent a future depression.

During the Great Depression, millions of Americans faced unemployment, poverty, and a collapse of the banking system. The New Deal focused on immediate relief for the suffering population, recovery of the economy through job creation and infrastructure development, and reform to ensure stability in the future. Initiatives like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Works Progress Administration (WPA), and Social Security were all integral components of this comprehensive approach.

In contrast, while fostering international trade, addressing post-World War I issues, or creating a welfare state might align with broader social or economic objectives, they do not encapsulate the urgent response that the New Deal aimed to provide for the specific crises resulting from the Great Depression.