Civilian Conservation Corps - Research Paper Example

With the value of stocks plummeting, numerous Americans faced the possibility of living in poverty. Furthermore, a huge number of employees were laid off (Otis 3). Facing harsh difficulties like diseases, poverty, and hunger, numerous Americans became more and more hopeless and anxious in the 1930’s. Various suggestions for beating the depression were given. However, President Herbert Hoover, who strongly embraced the principle of laissez-faire, chose to forgo government intervention. Hence, millions of Americans were already jobless by 1932 (Pasquill 28).

It was immediately before the forthcoming election that the dynamic and vigorous Franklin Delano Roosevelt completely took part in politics and lifted up the hopes of the American people. He was a remarkable orator and activist and most of all, an honorable and dependable man that the American people had faith in. Numerous conservation projects were initiated throughout the Great Depression, to generate jobs for the jobless. President Franklin Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933 as a component of the New Deal plan.

The CCC recruited jobless young males for public conservation tasks and offered training and jobs. This research paper discusses the purpose and outcome of the Civilian Conservation Corps. . rk, not interfering with normal employment, and confining itself to forestry, the preservation or soil erosion, flood control and similar projects” (Otis 6). The president believed that paid employment was more desired than dole out. He could also help jobless people get out of harmful environments and enhance their physical and spiritual wellbeing: “We can eliminate to some extent at least the threat that enforced idleness brings to spiritual and moral stability.

It is not a panacea for all unemployed but it is an essential step in this emergency” (Pasquill 1). Moreover, the project was a specific answer to the worries of officials about the risks of inactive, unemployed youths. These officials claimed that if they make these young males occupied with tasks, it would discourage these young males from getting involved in criminal activities. It seems successful, as several authorities attribute the lowering of crime rates to the CCC (Pasquill 1-3). Recruitment and organization were easy.

Eligible CCC aspirants have to be unmarried men between ages 18 and 25. Past that, they simply had to be healthy and unable to get by without a job. Roughly 250,000 CCC workers were organized in camps (Otis 10). Unfortunately, keeping these recruits became more difficult. The young males were maintained on a volunteer status. If they felt that the job was not suited for them, they would simply run off (Otis 13). Desertion was a major difficulty. The U.S. Army was tasked to construct and supervise the camps that accommodated the CCC workers.

Life in the camps was highly organized. The CCC workers are roused by trumpet calls every morning, and the workers had to form a line and be on the dot for meals. The CCC started providing education courses in these camps by 1932 (Sanders 38).