The event that led to the establishment of the modern welfare state was the Great Depression, which highlighted the need for government intervention in the economy and social services. As economic hardships escalated during the 1930s, millions suffered from unemployment and poverty. In response, President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced the New Deal, a series of programs aimed at relief, recovery, and reform. These initiatives laid the groundwork for a more extensive social safety net, including Social Security, unemployment benefits, and public welfare programs, fundamentally transforming the relationship between government and citizen.