The New Deal was a huge deal. Even though it did not get us out of the depression, it recalibrated the course of the country by creating a minimum wage, social security and the concept of necessary federal intervention into national emergencies, especially where states failed or ould not solve problems. In essence it was the actual ratification of the 14th amendment and paved the way to the civil rights act, voting rights act, medicare, medicaid, and ultimately Obamacare.