1. THE GREAT DEPRESSION
A BRIEF HISTORY

2. Timeline September 4, 1929 – U.S stock market prices began to fall.
October 29, Stock market crash (known as Black Tuesday).
Lasted until the start of WWII (September 3, 1939).

3. Causes Stock Market Crashed Banks Failed
Within 2 months of the October crash, stockholders had lost more than $40 billion dollars.
Banks Failed
Throughout the 1930’s more than 9,000 banks failed
No deposit insurance; people lost savings
Banks less likely to loan

4. U.S Unemployment rate above 25%
Causes
Decreased Spending & Increased Unemployment
Less purchasing led to less production
Less production led to workforce reduction
Workforce reduction led to households unable to pay debts
Inability to pay debts led to repossession
Repossession led to increased inventory
Increased inventory led to increased workforce reduction
U.S Unemployment rate above 25%

5. Causes Economic Policy Businesses began to fail
U.S Government introduced higher tariffs to protect companies
Led to decreased trade between U.S and foreign countries
Tariffs caused more harm than good

6. Consequences
U.S Annual Real GDP in ,088.0
U.S. Annual Real GDP

7. Consequences U.S. Unemployment Rate
Current U.S Unemployment Rate (Nov. 2011)
U.S. Unemployment Rate

8. Consequences Job Hunting Bread Line Feeding a crowd Migrant Worker
Mother of 7

9. The End
U.S called to action in response to Pearl the attack of Harbour
Men trained as soldiers, sent to war
Women ran plants and factories
Production of artillery, weaponry, transport needed to assist in war efforts

10. Sources
Statistics Canada Archives - The Great Depression (
U.S Department of Commerce-Bureau of Economic Analysis (
Cary Nelson, ‘Modern American Poetry’ (
Wikipedia (