The New Deal and North Dakota: A Special Report In 1932 the
American people and North Dakotans elected Democrat Franklin D.
Roosevelt as president. He promised the nation a New Deal. The
depression was so severe that local and state governments were
unable to remedy the crisis. Only the power of the federal
government could fight the great depression. Federal spending
and programs were the twin governmental responses. The farmers
of North Dakota, like those of the nation, needed immediate
help. The depression was driving farmers off the land. In June
1933 Congress passed the Agricultural Adjustment Act - one of
the first pieces of major New Deal legislation. The act
established the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA)
which had the responsibility for raising farm prices by
restricting production of crops. In return for cutting
production, the farmer received a “benefit check.” For example,
wheat farmers received about 30 cents a bushel on 54 percent of
their average production. When the Supreme Court