The major event associated with the Great Depression in the U.S. was the stock market crash of 1929. This catastrophic financial collapse triggered a widespread economic downturn, leading to massive unemployment, business failures, and significant declines in consumer spending. The Great Depression marked a decade of hardship throughout the 1930s, deeply affecting millions of American families. In response, the U.S. government implemented various programs and reforms under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal to provide relief, stimulate economic growth, and reform financial systems. The Great Depression fundamentally altered the role of government in economic life and set the stage for future social policies.