The onset of the Great Depression can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the stock market crash of 1929, over-speculation, and a lack of regulatory oversight in banking. Following the crash, consumer confidence plummeted, leading to reduced spending and widespread business failures. Poor agricultural practices, coupled with environmental factors like the Dust Bowl, exacerbated economic woes, particularly in rural areas. Lastly, protectionist policies such as the Smoot-Hawley Tariff further contracted international trade. Together, these elements created a devastating cycle of unemployment, poverty, and economic stagnation that lasted throughout the 1930s.