Which of the following best describes the impact of the New Deal on the American economy?

The choice that best describes the impact of the New Deal on the American economy is that it provided temporary relief without fundamental reforms. The New Deal, initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, aimed to address the immediate economic crisis through a series of programs focused on relief, recovery, and reform.

While the New Deal successfully offered temporary relief to millions of Americans suffering from unemployment and poverty, it did not fundamentally reform the capitalist economic system. It implemented programs that provided jobs, such as the Civilian Conservation Corps and Public Works Administration, and established social safety nets, like Social Security. However, these measures were designed to alleviate the effects of the depression rather than to alter the underlying economic structures.

Although the New Deal laid the groundwork for future reforms and expanded the role of the government in the economy, it failed to fully prevent subsequent economic challenges or eradicate poverty completely. Thus, calling it a temporary relief effort captures its essence more accurately than suggesting it created a permanent welfare state, eliminated poverty, or revitalized the private sector without government intervention.