the WPA (Works Progress Administration)

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a New Deal agency created in 1935 to combat the Great Depression by providing jobs through public works projects. It funded the construction of roads, bridges, schools, parks, and other infrastructure, offering employment to millions of unemployed Americans. Beyond building physical structures, the WPA also supported arts, education, and community programs. Its goal was to stimulate economic recovery, improve public facilities, and give workers meaningful employment, helping to restore stability and confidence during a difficult economic period.