Franklin Roosevelt made a number of suggestions to spur the economy and help end the Great Depression, including introducing basic banking and welfare reforms. While many of his programs did not take effect until much later, his ideas and programs have lasted throughout the years.
Because FDR refused to run up the federal deficits that ending the depression would require, many programs were voted down in both chambers of congress. Some of these reforms included a federal program for health care, a full-employment act, an increase in the minimum wage and an increase in Social Security benefits. FDR's New Deal did help restore the Gross National Product (GNP) to its 1929 level, but it was not the main factor in ending the Great Depression.
The main events that helped to create an end to the Great Depression occurred when the federal government imposed rationing on items such as milk, gas, fabric and other food items; recruited six million defense workers, including women and African Americans who were not allowed to work in these type jobs prior to this time; drafted six million soldiers and ran massive deficits to end World War II. FDR was still elected to an unprecedented four terms due to public approval.
