OFFICIAL USCIS CIVICS QUESTION

When did the Great Depression start?

Category: American History

Official Question & Answer

Question
When did the Great Depression start?
✦ OFFICIAL ANSWER ✦
The Great Crash (1929); stock market crash of 1929

Why This Is the Answer

The Great Depression started with the stock market crash of 1929, also known as the Great Crash. It began on 'Black Thursday' (October 24, 1929) and worsened on 'Black Tuesday' (October 29).

The crash wiped out millions of investors, triggered bank failures across the country, and sent the economy into a downward spiral that lasted throughout the 1930s.

While the stock market crash was the trigger, the underlying causes included overproduction, excessive speculation, weak banking systems, and declining international trade.

💡 Interview Tip

Say: 'The stock market crash of 1929' or '1929.'

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