What series of reforms aimed to end the Great Depression?

• A. The Great Society
• B. The New Deal
• C. The Fair Deal
• D. The Square Deal

Answer: (B)

The New Deal is the correct answer because it was a series of programs and reforms initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the 1930s in response to the Great Depression. It aimed to provide immediate economic relief to those suffering from poverty and unemployment, promote recovery through job creation, and implement reforms to prevent future economic crises. The New Deal included initiatives like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Public Works Administration (PWA), and Social Security, all designed to stimulate economic growth and provide support to the American populace during a time of severe economic distress.

In contrast, the Great Society, which aimed to eliminate poverty and racial injustice, was initiated in the 1960s under President Lyndon B. Johnson and is not associated with the Great Depression. The Fair Deal, proposed by President Harry S. Truman after World War II, sought to expand upon the New Deal's legacy but addressed post-war issues rather than those of the Great Depression. The Square Deal, associated with President Theodore Roosevelt, focused on conservation and regulating monopolies, also predating the Great Depression. Thus, the New Deal uniquely addresses the context and challenges of the Great Depression.