What event is widely considered the start of the Great Depression?

The Stock Market Crash of 1929 is widely regarded as the catalyst for the Great Depression due to its profound impact on the American economy and financial markets. This event, which occurred over several days in late October 1929, saw a dramatic drop in stock prices, leading to immense losses for investors and eroding public confidence in the economy. As banks began to fail and businesses went bankrupt, consumer spending plummeted and unemployment soared, creating a downward spiral that characterized the Great Depression.

The significance of this crash lies in its immediate and lasting consequences. It not only wiped out the savings of countless individuals but also triggered a series of economic failures that spread both nationally and globally. This event marked the transition from the Roaring Twenties—a period of significant economic growth—to an era of widespread hardship and instability.

In contrast, the Dust Bowl, while a significant environmental and agricultural crisis, came later in the 1930s and was not the initial cause of the Great Depression. World War II, which started in 1939, would eventually lead to economic recovery, but it was not a direct factor in the onset of the Great Depression. The New Deal was a series of federal programs and reforms initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to