The Great Depression of the 1930s was a consequence of the stock market crash of 1929. Until the 1930s, the government's role in the economy was minimal. The capitalist model envisioned a “laissez-faire” economy, in which market forces would automatically correct implicit imbalances, with little need for government intervention. At best, the government played a facilitative role, rather than actively intervening in the economy. Herbert Hoover, who was president when the stock market crashed in 1929, refused to actively intervene in the market economy. 1933 saw massive unemployment, starvation, a large inventory of crops with no buyers, and a near collapse of the banking system. Added to this were rampant corruption and crime. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who became president in 1933, initiated a series of measures, clubbed under the “New Deal,” to restore confidence in the economy, extend support to individuals, and reinvigorate the banking system and public institutions (Roosevelt Institute). The New Deal consisted of a series of programs. The Agricultural Adjustment Act actually paid farmers for cutting agricultural production, so that the reduction in supply served to raise food grain prices. The Civilian Construction Corps was created in 1933 to provide work for people, creating trails and civil works in public parks. The Civil Works Administration was expected to create good-paying jobs in the construction industry, but was shelved due to high costs to the industry. To combat Depression-related home mortgage foreclosures, the Federal Housing Administration was created to monitor mortgages and loans. This initiative was accompanied by the creation of the Home Owner's Loan Corporation, to assist in the refinancing of loans. The... middle of paper... ps, and the workers. Republicans were against the New Deal, as they favored reduced government intervention in the economy. Two prominent figures who opposed the New Deal were Huey Long, a senator from Louisiana who wanted a more drastic and equitable redistribution of wealth, and Charles Coughlin, a Catholic priest who wanted higher wages than those provided by the New Deal (Gordon ). Cited Gordon, Steven S. “Opponents of the New Deal.” DTMan.com. nd Web. March 19, 2014.Kelly, Martin. "Top 10 New Deal Programs." AmericanHistory.About.com. nd Web. March 19, 2014.Powell, Jim. “How FDR's New Deal Hurt Millions of Poor People.” Cato.org. December 29, 2003. Web. March 19, 2014. Roosevelt Institute. “The New Deal”. RooseveltInstitute.org. nd Web. March 19, 2014. Shmoop. "Summary and Analysis of FDR's New Deal." Shmoop.com. November 11, 2008. Web. March 20. 2014.