What was the purpose of the New Deal?

The purpose of the New Deal was to provide relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression. In response to the economic crisis that swept the United States following the stock market crash of 1929, this series of programs and policies implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt aimed to address the severe unemployment, poverty, and economic instability experienced by millions.

Relief efforts focused on immediate assistance for those suffering the most — such as jobless citizens, farmers facing foreclosures, and the elderly. Recovery initiatives were designed to stimulate economic growth, including public works programs that provided jobs and infrastructure improvements, while reforms sought to prevent future economic crises through regulatory measures on the banking system, stock market, and labor practices.

The other options reflect different focuses that were not the main aims of the New Deal. Increase in military spending relates to defense and preparedness, which were not directly addressed by the New Deal. Establishing a national healthcare system is a more contemporary issue that was not a component of Roosevelt's policies at that time. Promoting isolationism pertains to foreign policy and was not one of the objectives of the New Deal, which was primarily domestic in nature, focused on the economic challenges faced by the American populace.