Social Security: A Brief History In the postwar era of the United States, during a time of economic downfall, set in the 'Great Depression', most Americans throughout the United States were struggling to get jobs, raise their children, and even put food on their own table. Bread lines were forming, America was truly facing difficulties. For years, congress sat back and watched, they tried several things to try and help the American people recover, however nothing quite helped. In the 1930's President Franklin Delano Roosevelt went to great lengths to pass several bills and reform acts, however, nothing effected America at the time, and for years to come, as the Soci