They didn't starve before welfare. A dependent welfare state has been created that never existed before. We have to now deal with the animal that has been created. Is the answer to just let it continue or to force change? You sound like you are happy to just let it continue.
I'm afraid they did
yet somehow their family infrastructure remained intact and they transitioned from slaves with nothing to productive workers. All without government intervention. The depression hit and everyone starved. FDR put in programs to get people working and he did. until jobs started to return. But a whole class of people never got off the gravy train, that never existed before, and they still are with us today in growing numbers. And why do we feel the need to provide for the illegals? Let theire own countries deal with them.
You have been misinformed on so many counts about this topic one wonders if you are for real.
I'm going to assume you are sincere.
Go read some history. In fact, go read a lot of it.
You've got a some serious catching up to do.