The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic downturn that lasted from 1929 to the late 1930s, marked by a dramatic decline in economic activity, rising unemployment, and widespread poverty. It began with the stock market crash in October 1929, leading to bank failures, decreased consumer spending, and deflation. The effects were profound, impacting not just the United States but economies across the globe. Governments implemented various responses, including social programs and reforms aimed at economic recovery. The Great Depression profoundly changed economic policies and has had lasting impacts on social safety nets and government intervention in economies.