The Great Depression: Facts, Causes & Dates | HISTORY Great Depression The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world, lasting from 1929 to 1939. Explore every angle of the crisis and how it affected everyday Americans, from the stock market crash of 1929, to the Dust Bowl, to FDR’s response to the economic calamity—the New Deal. Featured Overview The 1930s Learn more about the 1930s, a particularly tumultuous decade in world history that got its start with a bang - or, more accurately, a crash. 1:08m watch Illustration by Eduardo Ramón Trejo. Photos from Getty Images. Featured Overview The 1930s Learn more about the 1930s, a particularly tumultuous decade in world history that got its start with a bang - or, more accurately, a crash. 1:08m watch Start Here 5 Causes of the Great Depression By 1929, a perfect storm of unlucky factors led to the start of the worst economic downturn in U.S. history. How the Dust Bowl Made Americans Refugees in Their Own Country As left the drought-ravaged Midwest, American-born migrants were viewed as disease-ridden intruders who sponged off the government. How FDR’s ‘Fireside Chats’ Helped Calm a Nation in Crisis As Americans confronted a banking crisis, the Great Depression and then World War II, FDR talked to Americans through radio broadcasts. 9 New Deal Infrastructure Projects That Changed America The Hoover Dam, LaGuardia Airport and the Bay Bridge were all part of FDR's New Deal investment. 3 Pillars of FDR’s New Deal Social Security Act Signed into law by FDR in 1935, Social Security created a federal safety net for elderly, unemployed and disadvantaged Americans that endures to this day. Works Progress Administration Over its eight years of existence, the employment and infrastructure program put some 8.5 million Americans to work building schools, hospitals, roads and other public works. Civilian Conservation Corps The work relief program gave millions of young men employment on environmental projects and helped shape the modern national and state park systems. How Artists Helped End the Great Depression History Shorts: How Artists Helped End the Great Depression By giving support to an army of creative workers, the government was able to lift the prospects of an entire nation. 1:04m watch Explore All Related Topics AllArticlesVideos Great Depression The 1930sNew DealDust BowlStock Market Crash of 1929 How Did the Gold Standard Contribute to the Great Depression? A number of complex factors helped to create the conditions necessary for the Great Depression, including adherence to the gold standard. How Photography Defined the Great Depression To justify the need for New Deal projects, the government employed photographers to document the suffering of those affected, producing some of the most iconic photographs of the Great Depression. When Movie Theaters Tried to Ban Popcorn The buttery, salty snack wasn’t always a movie-must. How FDR’s ‘Fireside Chats’ Helped Calm a Nation in Crisis As Americans confronted a banking crisis, the Great Depression and then World War II, FDR talked to Americans through radio broadcasts. Advertisement How the Treaty of Versailles and German Guilt Led to World War II From the moment the leaders of the victorious Allied nations arrived in France for the peace conference in early 1919, the post-war reality began to diverge sharply from Wilson’s idealistic vision. How 65 Became America’s Default Retirement Age The concept of retirement took hold after President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted the Social Security Act of 1935. The Hindenburg Disaster: Why the Giant Dirigible Burst Into Flames Theories ranged from negligence to sabotage to an 'act of God.' Hindenburg The 1937 Hindenburg disaster shocked the world as a German airship burst into flames, killing 36 and ending the age of zeppelins. Advertisement Advertisement The Hindenburg Disaster: 9 Surprising Facts Explore lesser-known truths about the Hindenburg disaster, including media myths, and how politics shaped the fate of the airship. The Real Story Behind the ‘Migrant Mother’ Uncovering the woman behind the famous Depression-era photograph. What Happened on Black Sunday? The Dust Bowl’s worst storm blotted out the sun and terrified the Great Plains’ already struggling population. Great DepressionDorothea Lange Documents America in Crisis Dorothea Lange captured the reality of the Great Depression in the faces of those who struggled most. 1:00m watch Advertisement Great DepressionThe Truth of the Hindenburg Disaster For decades, experts believed they knew what caused the Hindenburg disaster. But there may be more to this story. 9:58m watch New Deal FDR's New Deal aimed to revive the American economy. Dust Bowl Drought, farming practices and economic forces caused the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, devastating the Great Plains during the Great Depression. Great Depression History The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world, lasting from the stock market crash of 1929 to 1939. Load more Advertisement