The main purpose of the New Deal programs during the Great Depression was to provide relief, recovery, and reform to the struggling American economy. Initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s, these programs aimed to mitigate the devastating economic effects of the Great Depression by creating jobs, stimulating industrial recovery, and providing direct assistance to the unemployed and poor. Key initiatives included the establishment of social security, banking reforms, and various infrastructure projects through agencies like the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The New Deal sought to restore public confidence, stabilize the economy, and prevent future economic collapses, significantly influencing the role of government in American life.