Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Social Science Practice Test

Which statement about the Civilian Conservation Corp is NOT true?

1. Its members lived in camps, wore uniforms, and were under semi-military discipline

2. It engaged in projects such as preventing soil erosion and impounding lakes

3. It eventually came to employ over one-third of the American workforce

4. It provided that some of the workers' pay should be sent home to their families

The correct answer is: It eventually came to employ over one-third of the American workforce

The statement that is identified as not true is that the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) eventually came to employ over one-third of the American workforce. The CCC was a New Deal program established during the Great Depression, focusing primarily on providing jobs for young men in environmental and conservation projects. At its peak, the CCC employed around 300,000 men at any given time, which represented a fraction of the total American workforce. The overall U.S. workforce was considerably larger, especially during the 1930s, so the claim that it employed over one-third is an exaggeration and not representative of the actual numbers involved. In contrast, the other statements accurately reflect the nature and structure of the CCC. The organization indeed operated camps where members lived under a structured environment similar to military discipline, participated in significant conservation efforts to combat issues like soil erosion and manage water resources, and had a policy of sending a portion of their wages back home to support their families, helping to sustain households during a time of extreme economic hardship.