President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration (WPA) through Executive Order 7034, launching the largest New Deal agency that would employ 8.5 million Americans and transform the nation's infrastructure during the Great Depression.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) emerged as one of the most ambitious and transformative programs of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. Established on May 6, 1935, through Executive Order 7034, the WPA aimed to combat the devastating unemployment of the Great Depression by providing jobs to millions of Americans.

As the largest and most comprehensive New Deal agency, the WPA reshaped America's infrastructure and cultural landscape. The program put roughly 8.5 million people to work between 1935 and 1943, focusing on public works projects like roads, bridges, and public buildings while also supporting artists, writers, and performers through various cultural initiatives. This bold response to economic crisis represented an unprecedented level of federal intervention in American public life.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration through Executive Order No. 7034 on May 6, 1935. Congress allocated $4.9 billion in funding through the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, making it the largest New Deal agency at the time.

• Emergency Relief Appropriation Act provided the initial funding
• Harry Hopkins served as the first WPA administrator
• State and local governments contributed 10-30% of project costs
• The program operated under federal oversight with local administration

Administrative Level	Responsibility
Federal	Program oversight and funding allocation
State	Project approval and coordination
Local	Project implementation and workforce management
District	Day-to-day operations supervision

• Construction of 650,000 miles of roads
• Building of 78,000 bridges
• Development of 800 airports
• Installation of water and sewage systems
• Creation of public buildings including schools libraries

The WPA expanded beyond construction to include:

1. Federal Project Number One for artists writers musicians
2. National Youth Administration for student employment
3. Rural Electrification Administration programs
4. Library service projects in rural areas

During its first year, the WPA employed 3.5 million Americans with an average monthly wage of $41.57. Local WPA offices matched workers' skills to specific projects ensuring efficient resource allocation across communities.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal vision emerged as a comprehensive response to the unprecedented economic challenges of the Great Depression. The New Deal framework incorporated various programs and initiatives designed to provide relief, recovery and reform to the American economy.

The United States faced severe economic distress in 1935, with unemployment affecting 20% of the workforce. Key economic indicators revealed:

Economic Factor	1935 Statistics
Unemployed Workers	11 million
Average Family Income	$1,500 per year
Bank Failures	9,000+ since 1929
Manufacturing Output	Down 45% from 1929

These conditions prompted Roosevelt to expand federal intervention through direct employment programs. The existing Civil Works Administration provided temporary relief but lacked the comprehensive scope needed for long-term recovery.

Roosevelt signed Executive Order 7034 on May 6, 1935, establishing the Works Progress Administration. The order outlined three primary objectives:

1. Create a centralized agency to coordinate employment projects
2. Establish transparent funding allocation processes
3. Implement standardized labor practices across projects

The Executive Order authorized the WPA to:

• Coordinate with state governments for project selection

• Set wage standards based on regional cost-of-living differences

• Prioritize projects benefiting local communities

• Maintain oversight of fund disbursement

• Project approval authority

• Budget management responsibilities

• Staff appointment capabilities

• Interstate coordination duties

The Works Progress Administration's formation involved several influential figures who shaped its policies and implementation. Their combined expertise and vision established the foundation for one of America's largest public employment programs.

Harry Hopkins served as the first WPA Administrator from 1935 to 1938. His previous experience managing the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) equipped him with valuable insights into large-scale relief programs. Hopkins established three core operational principles:

1. Direct federal employment rather than direct relief
2. Wages based on prevailing local rates
3. Projects designed to benefit communities

During his leadership, Hopkins:

• Managed a $4.9 billion initial budget
• Coordinated with 48 state administrators
• Implemented a decentralized management structure
• Created specialized divisions for women's projects arts programs construction operations

His administrative approach focused on rapid project approval and implementation, resulting in:

Achievement	First Year Results (1935-1936)
Workers Employed	3.5 million
Projects Approved	4,373
States Participating	48
Average Monthly Wage	$41.57

Hopkins collaborated directly with President Roosevelt to expand the WPA's scope beyond basic infrastructure projects into cultural programs educational initiatives vocational training. His emphasis on putting Americans back to work quickly while maintaining project quality became the WPA's operational standard.

The Works Progress Administration established a comprehensive organizational framework to manage its nationwide operations effectively. The structure balanced federal oversight with local autonomy to ensure efficient project implementation across all states.

The WPA operated through a three-tier partnership system connecting federal, state and local governments. State WPA offices coordinated with local municipalities to identify projects that met community needs while adhering to federal guidelines. Each state appointed a WPA administrator who reported directly to the federal office while managing relationships with county and city governments.

Key partnership elements included:

• Revenue sharing with states contributing 10-30% of project costs
• Local government provision of materials equipment and engineering services
• Joint project review boards with representatives from all three levels
• Standardized reporting systems for financial and progress tracking

Partnership metrics 1935-1936:

Metric	Number
State WPA offices	48
Local participating governments	3,400
Joint review boards established	450
Approved state-local projects	4,373

The state-local partnership model enabled the WPA to maintain consistent standards while adapting to regional conditions. Local governments identified pressing infrastructure needs while state offices ensured proper resource allocation within federal parameters.

The Works Progress Administration initiated diverse projects across the United States immediately after its establishment in 1935. These early initiatives focused on both infrastructure development and employment creation through various specialized programs.

The WPA's initial employment target aimed to provide jobs for 3.5 million Americans by December 1935. Employment statistics from the first year show:

Employment Metric	Value
Workers employed (Year 1)	3.5 million
Average monthly wage	$41.57
Approved projects	4,373
States covered	48
Local governments involved	3,400

The program prioritized employing heads of households from relief rolls with specific skill sets matching project requirements. Project categories included:

• Construction projects for skilled laborers
• Public buildings renovation for craftsmen
• Park development for general laborers
• Professional services for white-collar workers
• Education programs for teachers

Each employment category maintained wage rates aligned with local prevailing wages without competing with private sector employment. The WPA restricted work hours to 8 hours per day 5 days per week ensuring standardized labor practices across all projects.

The employment distribution focused on:

• 75% allocation to construction projects
• 15% to professional service programs
• 10% to educational initiatives

This structured approach to employment allocation helped the WPA achieve its initial goals while maintaining efficiency in project completion rates during its first operational year.

The Works Progress Administration transformed American infrastructure through 650,000 miles of roads, 78,000 bridges, 800 airports, 125,000 public buildings and 8,000 public parks constructed between 1935-1943. These projects continue to serve communities today, with 85% of bridges and 65% of roads built during this era remaining in use.

The WPA's infrastructure initiatives created lasting improvements in:

• Transportation networks connecting rural communities to urban centers
• Public facilities including 4,000 school buildings and 130 new hospitals
• Water management systems serving 480 communities
• Recreational spaces encompassing 8,000 parks and 12,000 playgrounds
• Conservation projects protecting 154 million acres of land

Federal Project Number One revolutionized American arts and culture by:

• Producing 475,000 works of art and 276 full-length books
• Creating 18,800 sculptures and murals in public spaces
• Recording 2,300 oral histories preserving American folklore
• Establishing 100 community art centers across 22 states
• Supporting 40,000 artists through direct employment

The WPA's economic contributions included:

Economic Indicator	Impact
Jobs Created	8.5 million
Total Wages Paid	$11 billion
Projects Completed	1.4 million
States Served	48
GDP Growth (1935-1943)	58%

The WPA pioneered modern social programs through:

• Professional development training for 11 million workers

• Adult education programs reaching 1.5 million participants

• School lunch programs serving 900 million meals

• Public health initiatives treating 6.5 million patients

• Library services extended to 350 communities

• Project management systems for large-scale public works

• Federal-state cooperation frameworks

• Standardized wage policies across regions

• Performance monitoring methods

• Public-private partnership models

• The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was established on May 6, 1935, through Executive Order 7034 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• The WPA was the largest New Deal agency, receiving initial funding of $4.9 billion through the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act.
• During its operation from 1935 to 1943, the WPA employed approximately 8.5 million Americans and paid an average monthly wage of $41.57.
• The program completed massive infrastructure projects, including 650,000 miles of roads, 78,000 bridges, 800 airports, and 125,000 public buildings.
• Under Harry Hopkins' leadership, the WPA expanded beyond construction to include cultural initiatives through Federal Project Number One, supporting artists, writers, and performers.

The Works Progress Administration stands as one of the most transformative programs in American history. Established on May 6 1935 through Executive Order No. 7034 the WPA left an indelible mark on the nation's infrastructure cultural landscape and economic recovery during the Great Depression.

Through its eight-year run the program provided employment to 8.5 million Americans while creating lasting public works that continue to benefit communities today. The WPA's innovative approach to combining employment initiatives with infrastructure development set new standards for government programs and laid the groundwork for modern public works projects.

The program's success demonstrates how federal intervention during times of economic crisis can effectively address unemployment while simultaneously building for the future. This revolutionary approach to economic recovery remains a testament to the power of well-executed government initiatives.