Civil Conservation Corps (CCC)
Date Enacted & Administrator
Civil Conservation Corps was enacted on March 31 ,1933 which was within the first one hundred days of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidential administration. On April 5,1933, Robert Fechner was appointed as director of the program and he established an Advisory Council.
Purpose of this program:
It has two main purpose. First, Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted to solve the unemployment issue caused by the Great Depression. Second, he wanted to revitalize overworked agricultural land, reverse soil erosion, and implement reforestation.1
How did it attempt to achieve this purpose?
After winning the president election, President Roosevelt sought to use "New Deal" to revive American economy. One of these New Deal Programs was the Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) Act, more commonly known as the Civilian Conservation Corps.2 Roosevelt asked his secretaries of war, interior, agriculture, and labor to coordinate plans for the development of the Civilian Conservation Corps. CCC administration was shared by these four departments and one outside agency, the Veterans Administration. It was the responsibility of the Department of Labor to select CCC enrollees from state and local welfare agencies. Young men that are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, unmarried, and citizens of the United States will be recruited. They will get thirty dollars every month, ans their families will get twenty-five dollars support every month.3 These young men are sent to battle with the erosion and destruction of the nation's natural resources.For example, some are sent to pant trees; some are sent to build roads. By planting trees, it helped hold water in soil and hold the soil in place. As a result, the Dust Bowl issue is solved.4
In general, Roosevelt bring the two wasted sources(young men and the land) together to solve the unemployment issue and environmental issue.5 CCC created camps in national parks and forests and in other rural and wilderness settings. It made young men from the cities worked in a semi-military environment planting trees, building reservoirs, developing parks, and improving agricultural irrigation.6
In general, Roosevelt bring the two wasted sources(young men and the land) together to solve the unemployment issue and environmental issue.5 CCC created camps in national parks and forests and in other rural and wilderness settings. It made young men from the cities worked in a semi-military environment planting trees, building reservoirs, developing parks, and improving agricultural irrigation.6
Whom did this program most help?
CCC helped the recruited unemployed young men and their families because it gave them jobs and pay them and their family money in order to support their living.
Whom did it have least positive impact?
On the contrast, Non-U.S. citizens, women, married men, men that are not in the age range of 18-25 did not benefit much from this program because they were not included in the program. Also, people who needed to pay taxes for this program and people who lost their home and land for the construction of national parks got hurt because of this program.
How successful was it?
The CCC worked on improving millions of acres of federal and state lands, as well as parks. New roads were built, telephone lines strung, and trees planted.7
Achievements:
[ 7,153,000 man days expended on protecting the natural habitats of wildlife; 83 camps in 15 Western states assigned 45 projects of that nature;
46 camps assigned to work under the direction of the U.S. Bureau of Agriculture Engineering;
more than 84,400,000 acres of good agricultural land receive manmade drainage systems; Indian enrollees do much of that work;
1,240,000 man-days of emergency work completed during floods of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys;
forest improvement — timber stand inventories, surveying, and reforestation;
forest recreation development — campgrounds built, complete with picnic shelters, swimming pools, fireplaces, and restrooms.
more than 3,470 fire towers erected;
97,000 miles of fire roads built;
more than 3 billion trees planted;
4,235,000 man-days devoted to fighting fires;
more than 3 billion trees planted;
disease and insect control; ] 8
According the achievements above, Civil Conservation Corps was SUCCESSFUL!!!
CCC existed for fewer than 10 years, but left a legacy of strong, handsome roads, bridges, and buildings throughout the United States.9 Because of CCC, we have this amazing environment now. Every American is still enjoying the fruit of CCC.
Achievements:
[ 7,153,000 man days expended on protecting the natural habitats of wildlife; 83 camps in 15 Western states assigned 45 projects of that nature;
46 camps assigned to work under the direction of the U.S. Bureau of Agriculture Engineering;
more than 84,400,000 acres of good agricultural land receive manmade drainage systems; Indian enrollees do much of that work;
1,240,000 man-days of emergency work completed during floods of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys;
forest improvement — timber stand inventories, surveying, and reforestation;
forest recreation development — campgrounds built, complete with picnic shelters, swimming pools, fireplaces, and restrooms.
more than 3,470 fire towers erected;
97,000 miles of fire roads built;
more than 3 billion trees planted;
4,235,000 man-days devoted to fighting fires;
more than 3 billion trees planted;
disease and insect control; ] 8
According the achievements above, Civil Conservation Corps was SUCCESSFUL!!!
CCC existed for fewer than 10 years, but left a legacy of strong, handsome roads, bridges, and buildings throughout the United States.9 Because of CCC, we have this amazing environment now. Every American is still enjoying the fruit of CCC.
Conclusion:
Civil Conservation Corps was a relief to solve the unemployment issue and environmental issue. It started to lose its power since 1939 because of Lend-Lease program and Federal Security Agency. In 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese, people realized that no federal projects matters except projects related to the war. Eventually, CCC was abolished by July 1, 1942.
CCC was a liberal program because Roosevelt used strong government power to gather young men together and provide them jobs. It was one of the most successful program of Roosevelt's New Deal. Although it does not exist now, the legacy of this program is still giving us benefits.
CCC was a liberal program because Roosevelt used strong government power to gather young men together and provide them jobs. It was one of the most successful program of Roosevelt's New Deal. Although it does not exist now, the legacy of this program is still giving us benefits.
1. "Civilian Conservation Corps." Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Oklahoma State University, 2007. Web. 17 Mar. 2013 <http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/c/ci012.html>.
2. "CCC Brief History." Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy. CCC Legacy, 2004. Web.17 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.ccclegacy.org/CCC_Brief_History.html>.
3. "Civilian Conservation Corps." Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Oklahoma State University, 2007. Web. 17 Mar. 2013. <http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/c/ci012.html>.
4. "Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)." United States History. United States History, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1586.html>.
5. Ibid.
6. Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.
7. "Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)." United States History. United States History, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1586.html>.
8. Ibid.
9.Ibid.
2. "CCC Brief History." Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy. CCC Legacy, 2004. Web.17 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.ccclegacy.org/CCC_Brief_History.html>.
3. "Civilian Conservation Corps." Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Oklahoma State University, 2007. Web. 17 Mar. 2013. <http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/c/ci012.html>.
4. "Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)." United States History. United States History, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1586.html>.
5. Ibid.
6. Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.
7. "Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)." United States History. United States History, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1586.html>.
8. Ibid.
9.Ibid.