Final answer:
In 1938, Congress enacted the Agricultural Adjustment Act to stabilize agricultural prices by reducing surpluses and offering farmers cash payments to limit production. Measures such as the WPA for public works and the Emergency Farm Mortgage Act also provided relief and support for farmers and workers during the Great Depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1938, Congress passed measures to support farmers and workers as part of the broader effort to recuperate the American economy during the Great Depression. Notably, the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) was instrumental, which was designed to boost agricultural prices by reducing surpluses.
The AAA encouraged farmers to limit production, thereby increasing demand, and in return, farmers received cash payments. This innovative approach was financed by a tax on processing plants, which were supposed to pass the cost onto consumers through higher prices.
Alongside agricultural support, substantial funding for public works projects was provided via initiatives like the Progress Administration of 1935 (WPA), offering direct relief to the unemployed. Additionally, the Emergency Farm Mortgage Act and Agricultural Extension programs were enacted to address the mortgage crisis for farmers and to educate them on improved farming methods to prevent ecological disasters like the Dust Bowl.