Social+Security+Act,+1935

Javid Khwaja Per. 1 Nolan

Times/Issues The Social Security Act was part of Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal which was signed into law in 1935. During this time period the U.S was going through the Great Depression. With the nations economy in a recession at the time, many people were unemployed including a great number of the elderly who had to live with no income and left many in poverty. As a response to the nations crisis, Roosevelt had introduced the New Deal which included the Social Security Act, which had provided income insurance for the elderly, children and the unemployed.

History/Origins The Social Security Act had been one of many programs in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. It’s prime purpose at the time was to insure that citizens that were not employed or weren’t in working classification would be able to receive money. At the time most of the nation was unemployed and out of work. Roosevelt had seen this as a problem which had indicated that if Americans didn’t have any money to spend, the nation wouldn’t pull out of the depression which would need the cash flow of the nations economy to increase.

Controversy When proposed the Social Security Act was very controversial. Many had argued that the act would cause a loss of jobs, but was also seen to increase jobs as a result of the elderly being encouraged to retire early which would then produce jobs for young workers. Also the act had excluded many groups including woman as well as people who fell in the job categories in agricultural labor, government, social workers, and more. More than half of the nations working population was unable to obtain Social Security benefits due to these restrictions. Another controversy of the Act was the question if it was constitutional or not. Through 2 Supreme Court cases, Steward Machine Company v. Davis and Helvering v. Davis, the Social Security Act was proven constitutional.

Scale 1-100 I would place this on the top half. Around number 28 due to many documents on the list contain a greater impact and significance to the U.S than this act such as the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence but is much greater importance than the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. The Act is up at 28 due to its major impact on society today and in the past. The Act effects all citizens by taking a portion out of workers paychecks or by supplying money to those who are disabled or have retired from there careers. That is why I rank the Social Security Act at 28 due to its major role in the nations workforce as well as its citizens.

Surrender Of Germany/Social Security Act The Surrender of Germany and the Social Security Act have very few similarities and similar effects to society. The surrender of Germany was a very historic and crucial event to the world as a whole. It had ended World War II and stopped the worlds fear of the great power Germany had become. Comparing these two, in my opinion the surrendering of Germany has a greater importance due to it had impacted the world in a more scaleable way and therefore impacted the U.S along with its citizens and the world than the Social Security Act which effects our nations citizens only and plays a small part than the end of World War II.