The United States was still entangled in the depression heading in to 1939. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal initiatives gave limited relief to a populace feeling the pain of unemployment, inflation, and shortages. Surprisingly, even with major changes such as increased federal spending, regulating prices, job placement programs, the enlargement of unions, more availability of home loans, the beginning of the social security program as well as the public's renewed faith in the government did almost nothing to bring prosperity to the people.
By the end of the 1930s, the unemployment rate in America was sitting at 17% with a poverty level of almost 30%; and those needing help the most secured few of the benefits touted in the New Deal. As it turned out, the New Deal did not end the depression as President Roosevelt had hoped.…