Colonists brought with them the British Poor Laws, which were a set of laws that set aside the members of the population that could work, but did not have a job, and those who could not due to age or physical impediments. Then, during the Civil War, veterans of such war began to receive aid because of a program passed in the year 1862. Social Welfare Programs like the ones seen today had a start in the year 1935 when President Roosevelt passed the Social Security Act. Four years later it was amended to introduce unemployment compensation, Aid to Dependent Children (presently known as AFDC or Aid to Families with Dependent Children) among other agencies and programs. Later on President Clinton signed the Personal responsibility and Work Opportunity act in 1996. According to The Heritage Foundation, state and federal spending on welfare began to rise dramatically during the decade of the 60’s, until it has reached the point where the combined state and federal government spending reaches $949 Billion dollars (Total Welfare Spending Reaches $949