Final answer:
The New Deal improved the lives of U.S. workers by establishing agencies like the WPA for employment and infrastructure projects, introducing Social Security for pensions and unemployment insurance, and stabilizing the banking system with the creation of the FDIC. It also secured economic security for farmers and homeowners and expanded the government's role in welfare. The correct option is C) It established the WPA to provide employment and build infrastructure.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the New Deal Improved the Lives of U.S. Workers
The New Deal considerably improved the lives of U.S. workers in several ways. Firstly, it established the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided widespread employment opportunities and undertook large-scale infrastructure projects. By directly providing jobs, the New Deal helped alleviate the acute unemployment problem born out of the Great Depression. Workers benefited from various other programs like the Social Security Administration, which introduced unemployment insurance, and pensions for the elderly, signaling a transformative change in government responsibility for welfare.
Further, financial reforms and regulations such as the creation of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) helped restore trust in the banking system, indirectly benefiting workers by stabilizing the economy. The New Deal also provided support to farmers and homeowners, preventing foreclosures and ensuring economic security for families, thereby strengthening the consumer base.
The legacy of the New Deal was profound: it fundamentally altered the relationship between the federal government and American citizens, expanding the government's role in ensuring economic security and setting the stage for future welfare policies. The correct option is C) It established the WPA to provide employment and build infrastructure.