The Tennessee Valley Authority

While some areas were turned to dust, other were flooded. The Tennessee river would often flood in spring but reduce to a trickle in the summer. Since the river flowed through seven states, the federal government set up the Tennessee Valley Authority to build dams along its length and produce cheaper electricity.

Map of Tennessee Valley Authority (Source: NARA)

Unsuccessful New Deal ideas

Some of the New Deal ideas did not work. The National Recovery Act in 1933 insisted on fair dealing between workers and employers. Businesses were to ensure that long hours were not worked and fair wages were given to all. Rich industrialists such as Henry Ford, with many others, refused to join the scheme and The Supreme Court ruled that the Act was illegal. Despite this Roosevelt finally established a national system of unemployment and old age insurance in 1935.

Unemployment march, New Jersey 1935 (Source: NARA)