Final answer:
The New Deal programs of the Great Depression and the post-war G.I. Bill are notable examples of how government programs can help solve economic problems by providing relief and stimulating growth. The Great Society programs further addressed economic disparities through social support initiatives.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout the last century, government programs have played significant roles in shaping and supporting the U.S. economy. During the era of the Great Depression, the New Deal programs introduced by Franklin D. Roosevelt were crucial in providing relief, recovery, and reform. These programs included public work projects, financial reforms, and industry regulations which aimed to get Americans back to work and stimulate economic growth.
In the post-war era, the G.I. Bill was a landmark piece of legislation that helped veterans by providing them with benefits such as low-cost mortgages, low-interest loans to start a business, cash payments of tuition and living expenses to attend university, high school, or vocational education, as well as one year of unemployment compensation. It was available to every veteran who had been on active duty during the war years for at least 90 days and had not been dishonorably discharged; combat was not required. By enabling the education and training of veterans, the G.I. Bill also boosted the U.S. economy by expanding the middle class and stimulating home and business ownership.
Furthermore, under President Johnson, the Great Society programs addressed poverty and racial injustice by creating initiatives like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Economic Opportunity Act that helped various groups of Americans and worked to eliminate poverty and racial injustice, supporting economic growth.