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 Related Videos 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 Great DepressionFranklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal How did President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal get the American economy back on track? 1:54m watch Great DepressionTennessee Valley Authority - Nature's Power Harnessed In the early 1930s, the Tennessee River Valley used to flood every spring. FDR created the Tennessee Valley Authority to fix the problem. 2:44m watch Great DepressionThe Fireside Chats Elected in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was a reassuring presence for many Americans through the trials of the Great Depression. 4:06m watch HISTORY EducationHISTORY Vault™HISTORY AppsHISTORY en Español®Military HISTORY®Newsletter Sign UpShare Your OpinionsFAQ / Contact Us Advertise with UsA+E Factual Studios™A+E Studios®Employment OpportunitiesAccessibility SupportTV Parental Guidelines Advertise with UsA+E Factual Studios™A+E Studios®Employment OpportunitiesAccessibility SupportTV Parental Guidelines © 2026, A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyCopyright PolicyCookie NoticeAd Choices The 1930s | HISTORY