The Great Depression, a significant event in U.S. history, is characterized by widespread economic hardship during the 1930s. Triggered by the 1929 stock market crash, it led to severe unemployment, deflation, and poverty, affecting millions of Americans. Banks failed, businesses closed, and families struggled to make ends meet. The federal government responded with programs aimed at economic recovery, notably through Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal initiatives, which sought to reform financial systems, create jobs, and support vulnerable populations. The Great Depression fundamentally changed the role of government in economic affairs, leading to lasting impacts on American social and political life.