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 10 exam-style questions and 5 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 1 of 12 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 1 of 12
Practice
10 questions
Recall
5 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."