Works Progress Administration (WPA)

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a New Deal agency created in 1935 during the Great Depression in the United States. Its purpose was to provide jobs for millions of unemployed Americans. The WPA funded large public works projects, like highways, schools, parks, and bridges, helping to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure while employing artists, writers, and musicians to create cultural works. By 1943, the WPA had employed over 8 million people, significantly contributing to economic recovery and leaving a lasting impact on American society and culture.