What event is known as the beginning of the Great Depression?

Study for the US History Regents Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for success!

The Stock Market Crash of 1929 is identified as the beginning of the Great Depression because it marked a significant turning point in American economic history. On October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday, stock prices plummeted dramatically, leading to a near-total collapse of the stock market. This event had a cascading effect on the economy, leading to widespread financial panic, bank failures, and a decrease in consumer spending and investment.

As people lost their savings and jobs, the impact on the economy deepened, contributing to massive unemployment and a contraction in economic activity that characterized the Great Depression throughout the 1930s. This crash highlighted the underlying weaknesses in the economy, including over-speculation, and excessive lending practices that had built up during the prosperous 1920s, and it set in motion a series of events that would change the fabric of American society for years to come.

The other options, while significant in their own rights, do not represent the catalyst for the Great Depression. The election of Franklin D. Roosevelt was a response to the crisis, the Dust Bowl was a separate environmental disaster that exacerbated the economic situation in the agricultural sector, and the end of World War I occurred a decade earlier, leading to

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