Why would a country spend enormous amounts of money and risk military lives to fight communism; and then that same country would begin to implement programs and laws within itself that would eventually lead to a governing body comparable to communism? This question is complex; yet the answer reveals itself when the United States of America finds itself in exactly this situation. The expansion of government into the lives of American citizens is consistent with the common principles underlying communism and socialism – the same principles that the United States of America was fighting against during the Cold War. At a time when the Great Depression had devastated America, President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted various programs – collectively called the New Deal. These programs were focused on helping Americans get back on their feet; in general most programs have done just that. However, the New Deal programs implemented from 1933-1936 effectively laid the foundation for America's loss of individual liberties, a dependence on the U.S. government, and expanded the powers of the federal government. Government expansion was quietly beginning to take root and set the stage for America's loss of individual liberties – a communist foundation. Programs like the Social Security Act and the Works Progress Administration would quietly begin to chip away at the American dream of freedom and individualism and begin the implementation of government control and expansion as we know it today. However, the New Deal began the process of Eliminating individual liberties, the programs established by this legislation were attractive to people and created dependency, which resulted in dependence on the government. Now,... middle of the paper... dictionary/communism. (accessed 26 October 2011). Schneider, Gregory L. The Conservative Century: From Reaction To Revolution. 28. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield 2009. Worth, Richard. Social Security Act. 12-14. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corp. 2011. Bibliography Brands, H. W. “The War That Never Ended.” In American Dreams: The United States since 1945. 35. New York: Penguin Group USA, Inc. 2010.Conserveapedia.com. “New agreement”. http://conservapedia.com/New_Deal. (accessed October 28, 2011).Merriam-Webster.com, sv“communism” http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communism. (accessed 26 October 2011). Schneider, Gregory L. The Conservative Century: From Reaction To Revolution. 28. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield 2009. Worth, Richard. Social Security Act. 12-14. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corp. 2011.