Final answer:
The Slave Narratives were recorded during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration as part of the WPA in the 1930s, with the purpose of preserving firsthand accounts of slavery before the former slaves passed away.
Step-by-step explanation:
The recording of the Slave Narratives occurred during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the Federal Writers' Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s. During this time, the nation was in the midst of the Great Depression, and the WPA was one of the New Deal programs designed to provide jobs and support various cultural projects.
It was critical that the collection of Slave Narratives occur at that time because the former slaves were aging, and there was a pressing need to capture their accounts before they passed away. These narratives are crucial for understanding the personal experiences of slavery and its impact on individuals and society. The urgency of the task was compounded by the fact that firsthand accounts of slavery would soon be lost to time if not recorded promptly.
The educational purpose and the potential to inform future generations about the realities of slavery were significant motivations for documenting these oral histories, especially in the context of an America that was grappling with racial issues and where the legacy of slavery was still a contentious topic.