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7.8 The Great Depression

Part of Period 7: 1890–1945 in AP® US History. Read the opening section, then create a free account for the full interactive lesson, practice, and progress tracking.

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The Great Depression was the most severe financial collapse in U.S. history. It revealed the weaknesses of industrial capitalism and the dangers of speculation and inequality. The stock market crash of 1929 destroyed confidence in the financial system. Banks failed, businesses closed, and unemployment rose to nearly one-quarter of the workforce by 1933.

In this unit

13 lessons

  1. 7.1Imperialism: DebatesPreview lesson
  2. 7.2The Spanish-American WarPreview lesson
  3. 7.3The ProgressivesPreview lesson
  4. 7.4World War I: Military and DiplomacyPreview lesson
  5. 7.5World War I: Home FrontPreview lesson
  6. 7.61920s: Innovations in Communication and TechnologyPreview lesson
  7. 7.71920s: Cultural and Political ControversiesPreview lesson
  8. 7.8The Great DepressionThis lesson
  9. 7.9The New DealPreview lesson
  10. 7.10Interwar Foreign PolicyPreview lesson
  11. 7.11World War II: MobilizationPreview lesson
  12. 7.12World War II: MilitaryPreview lesson
  13. 7.13Postwar DiplomacyPreview lesson

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