AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Causes of the Great Depression (Day 236/309)

Hey APUSHers, let’s chat about the Causes of the Great Depression as part of my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

U.S. Unemployment 1910-1960, Wikimedia Commons

The Great Depression, occurring from 1929 to 1941, was precipitated by a combination of economic, financial, and systemic factors. 

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Lowry Institute

Most visibly, the stock market crash of 1929, triggered by widespread speculation, the overvaluation of stocks, excessive borrowing, and margin trading, marked the beginning of the economic downturn.

Recession, Napkin Finance

Next, a decrease in industrial production due to lowered demand led to widespread unemployment and subsequently reduced consumer spending.

Dust Storm Approaching Stratford, Texas, Wikimedia Commons

Agricultural distress further deepened the crisis, as overproduction, falling prices, and the Dust Bowl disproportionately affected farming communities. 

U.S, Merchandise Trade Balance, The Real Economy Blog

International economic factors, such as the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act of 1930, contributed to a decline in global trade, exacerbating the economic downturn. 

While the stock market crash of 1929 was the recognizable catalyst for the Great Depression, other economic, international, and environmental factors created a complex web of causes of this historic crisis.

Join me tomorrow as I explain Hoover’s Response to the Great Depression in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily.