The Great Depression, the worst economic crisis of the 20th century. Beginning with the stock market crash of 1929, this economic catastrophe culminated in an unemployment rate that skyrocketed, exceeding 25 percent, with massive poverty never before seen in the United States. Business investment fell by 90% and if you were unfortunate enough to put your money in a bank that failed, you were wiped out. Older people have been hit hardest by this economic calamity. In response, the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt launched a series of programs called the New Deal. The purpose of these programs was to provide resources to protect the general welfare of citizens in hopes of reducing the unemployment percentage, stabilizing banking markets, reviving the economy, and raising public morale. Among the many initiatives launched by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Social Security was one of the most effective programs implemented by the United States government during the Great Depression and one that continued to have a powerful and lasting on the country until today. What is Social Security and how does it work? Social security is a form of social insurance intended to protect and assist individuals during difficult times such as old age, unemployment and death. This is a social insurance program financed by income taxes. Social Security is a broad term that can be divided into several different categories. These may include unemployment benefits, health insurance for the elderly and disabled, temporary assistance for families in need, and grants to states for medical assistance programs. In the past, it was a form of social insurance rather than welfare...... middle of paper ...... representing an improvement in social justice in an era where individuals were losing hope and disillusioned with the American system of government and economic organization. “The current legislation has redefined the relationship between government and society. » (Béland 94). The result was a new notion of social obligation. “The Social Security Act of 1935 created permanent measures that have lasting social, economic, and political consequences. » (Béland 94) Today, most Americans continue to view Social Security as an economic program providing financial support to retirees in their golden years. But it is also a lasting social reform in which we, citizens, take care of each other. Never again will presidents receive letters saying, “I am a 60-year-old widow in dire need of medical assistance, food, and fuel. Please have mercy on me” (“Social Security Online”)