The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a program dedicated to employing young men between the ages of 17 and 23.5 to restore and create national parks. (nps.gov) Passed by Congress on March 31, 1933 and lasting for 9 years, the program accomplished two major things: giving an opportunity for decent employment during the Depression, and creating parks and doing other nature-based projects all over America.  (nps.gov)(Conlin 696)

          Unemployed men were given the opportunity to join in the semi-military program providing meals, lodging, uniform, and medical care from the government. (nps.gov)(Brinkley 634) The recruits were divided into CCC Companies and assigned a project.  (cps.gov) Camping on cite, the men worked 8 hour days on the projects. (pbs.org) After working hours, classes were offered to further the men's education. (nps.gov) By the CCC's end, these classes taught 40,000 illiterate men to read and write. (pbs.org)  They also recieved a monthly emolument of $30; five of which they kept for personal use while the rest was sent home to benefit their families. (nps.gov) The families of America benefitted from the paycheck especially while the extra mouth to feed was off living under the government's provision.  The men were allowed up to two years of 6-month terms of service. (nps.gov) During their time, they did things like forest management,  flood control, agricultural irrigation improvements, and firefighting. They also built reservoirs, developed state and national parks, and devoloped historic cites. (Brinkley 634)(Conlin 696)(pbs.org)(nps.gov) Natural and historic cites were put on display for the American people, and they continued to bless each new generation. 

        Overall, the program most benefitted the unemployed male working class Americans. Within two months of the program's creation, 250,000 unemployed men were enlisted. (pbs.org) Over the 9-year span of the CCC's existance, approximately 3 million men were employed nationwide. (nps.gov) Roosevelt's hope to provide jobs and improve the nation through small projects came true, and it was an unprecidented success. It's no wonder according to Brinkley the CCC became "Roosevelt's favorite relief project." (Brinkley 634)

        Interestingly, the CCC was a very liberal move by Roosevelt and probably earned some contempt for the government's claim on yet more aspects of the American lifestyle: their source of employment, and the creation and ownership of huge plots of land for parks and historic sites.  On the other hand, the CCC was a conservative program in that it, yes, controled more jobs, but jobs that were traditionally military based with the goal of preserving American national treasure of land.  Regardless of the program being liberal or conservative, the CCC successfully helped pull America out of the Great Depression.

         Today we enjoy camp grounds, parks, and historic cites left to us by the CCC. The Theodore Roosevelt National Park amd Chateau de Mores State Historic Site are a great examples of the CCC's legacy. (nps,gov) The CCC has created some of the most beautiful and well loved destinations for the average American. Through researching this project, I found that my favorite hangout spot, Sherando Lake, was built by the CCC. Who knew! History has a hold on each day of our lives even if we don't recognize it. This includes the accomplishments of the CCC. 

(Check out what CCC projects are near you! For an interactive online map of the CCC project cites, click the "Go" button)