How Did Frances Perkins Change American Society

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Imagine being the person who worked the hardest, the driving force, on some of the biggest changes in American history, but watching someone else get all the praise. This is exactly what happened to Frances Perkins, the first woman to be in the US cabinet as secretary of labor, during the Second New Deal. The Second New Deal, started in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, brought several important programs that changed American society and its economy for the better. While Roosevelt usually gets the credit for these big changes, a closer look shows Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet, as Secretary of Labor, played a key role. Perkins pushed for these programs even when Roosevelt had doubts or faced strong opposition.