The Social Security Act (1935) Research Assignment

The Social Security Act (1935)
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Institution of affiliation
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The Social Security Act (1935)
Question 1
The Social Security Act was enacted in 1935. The purpose of the act was to provide a means to provide financial assistance to underprivileged and at-risk individuals in the US. The Act was a key piece of the New Deal legislation under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of the law in Steward Machine Company v. Davis, (1937) and Helvering v. Davis, (1937).
Question 2
The Act was in response to the problems occasioned by the rapid industrialization and urbanization of the late 1800s and early 1900s. This led to a mismatch in available housing for workers. Thus, workers were forced to live in squalid conditions. The Act provided financial assistance for states to support at-risk individuals. These include; unemployed individuals (noting that this was at the end of the Great Depression), aid for families in financial distress, handicapped individuals, and public health services.
Question 3
Agricultural and Domestic Workers were excluded from the benefits of the SSA CITATION Dav16 \l 1033 (Stoesz, 2016). Other professionals such as; teachers, nurses, hospital workers, librarians, social workers, federal civil service employees were not included. These professions largely consisted of women and minorities. They were, however, covered through their husbands' benefits packages CITATION Qua94 \l 1033 (Quadagno, 1994).
Question 4
The document will be helpful in answering my research question by providing information on the text of the Social Security Act. The document specifically provides information on the pension component of the act. This provides necessary data on how financial assistance was availed to states through the scheme.
Question 5
The speech is by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). The speech is given at the signing of the Social Security Act. The speech discusses the welfare programs established through the act. The speech also notes the revolutionary nature of the act in providing social security to over 30 million Americans.
Question 6
FDR notes that the act is designed as a social welfare mechanism. It provides individuals covered through it a security net where they are covered through unemployment benefits, pension, and health benefits. These individuals should thus receive compensation where they or their families fall sick, industrial accidents occur, become old and unable to work and lose their employment. The act...