Back in the earlier days, welfare resembled the English system. Social governments were responsible for helping the poor. But the colonies and later the states sometimes helped the local governments provide aid. The first federal welfare program began after the Revolutionary War. Pensions was then provided to war veterans. During the Civil War these pensions were expanded to cover soldiers' widows and orphans. In the early 1900's, primary responsibility for providing welfare benefits shifted from local to state governments. During these years states enacted programs to aid dependent children and the elderly.