Following the Crash of 1929 and into the Great Depression of the 1930s, the US Government began involvement with "prehabilitation camps" that sought to make the American males fitter following WWI. Spinning around this movement was the Civilian Conservation Corps program--the CCC. Men could sign up for the CCC for one full year and get room, board, plenty of good food (which was hard to find in the 1930s), and make a small wage while they learned manual skills they could use to get a job after their service year. The government was involved in building their morale, character, and financial independence "through the physical bodies" of the men. Through this process, they eliminated the "feminine dependence" upon the state such as standing in the soup lines and getting free handouts. What the men really needed was WORK and work SKILLS. Here's a quick share about this fascinating era of American history and fitness.
Reference: "Governing Bodies: American Politics and the Shaping of the Modern Physique" by Rachel Louise Moran (2018)
Graphic Credit: Works Progress Administration, Federal Art Project; Albert M. Bender, designer
