History Resources

Civilian Conservation Corps poster, 1938

A Spotlight on a Primary Source by the Arizona Civilian Conservation Corps

Enlistment poster for the Arizona Civilian Conservation Corps., September 24, 19
Enlistment poster for the Arizona Civilian Conservation Corps., September 24, 1938. (Gilder Lehrman Collection)
The Civilian Conservation Corps directly addressed two of the most pressing problems during the Depression: male youth unemployment and environmental degradation. The CCC, based on a military model of everyday life, put thousands of young men to work planting trees, improving national and state parks, and creating infrastructure. They were paid $30 a month and received room and board while they worked for the program.

 

 

Questions for Discussion

Read the document introduction, view the poster, and then use your knowledge of American history to answer the questions that follow.

  1. How did the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) attempt to address the needs of the nation?
  2. Describe the technique the artist used to encourage enrollment in the CCC.
  3. Why was the CCC one of the more popular of the “alphabet agencies” created by New Deal legislation?
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