The Wall Street Crash and Great Depression

The Wall Street Crash of October 1929 brought the economic boom of the 1920s to a sudden and devastating end. It triggered the Great Depression, a period of severe economic hardship that affected millions of Americans. This lesson covers the causes of the crash, what happened during it, and the impact of the depression on American society.

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Causes of the Wall Street Crash

The stock market had been rising throughout the 1920s, and millions of Americans invested in shares, many of them speculating (buying shares to sell at a profit rather than as a long-term investment).