This introduction covers Setting the Scene within Causes of the Depression for GCSE History. Revise Causes of the Depression in America 1920-1973 for GCSE History with 12 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 1 of 14 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📖 Setting the Scene
On October 29, 1929 — "Black Tuesday" — the American dream turned into a nightmare. Share prices on Wall Street collapsed. Fortunes were wiped out in hours. But here's the crucial point examiners want you to understand: the Crash was the TRIGGER, not the CAUSE. The American economy was already sick — built on debt, overproduction, and extreme inequality. The Crash just exposed these weaknesses. Within three years, 25% of Americans were unemployed, banks had failed, and families were living in cardboard shacks called "Hoovervilles."
Practice questions for Causes of the Depression
On which date did 'Black Tuesday' occur, marking the worst day of the Wall Street Crash?
By 1933, approximately what percentage of the American workforce was unemployed?
Quick recall flashcards
Peak unemployment?
25% (1933) — 1 in 4 workers
How many banks failed?
5,000 (1929-1932)