History
What is The Great Depression?
The Great Depression was the most severe worldwide economic downturn of the 20th century, lasting from 1929 to the late 1930s. It began with the US stock market crash and led to mass unemployment, poverty, and bank failures.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains the great depression.
Key things to understand
- 1Triggered by the 1929 Wall Street crash.
- 2Banks failed, businesses closed, and unemployment soared (~25% in the US).
- 3It spread globally, deepening hardship for a decade.
- 4It reshaped economic policy and eased with WWII-era spending.
Frequently asked questions
- What caused the Great Depression?
- The 1929 stock market crash, bank failures, falling demand, and poor policy responses combined to deepen it.
- How long did the Great Depression last?
- From 1929 until the late 1930s, easing as wartime spending ramped up.
- How did it end?
- Recovery came through major government programs and the economic mobilization of World War II.