The year marking the official beginning of the Great Depression is 1929, culminating with the stock market crash on October 29, known as Black Tuesday. This catastrophic event triggered a severe economic downturn, leading to widespread unemployment, bank failures, and a dramatic decline in industrial production. The repercussions were felt globally, as international trade plummeted, and numerous countries entered their own periods of economic hardship. The Great Depression necessitated significant government intervention and reforms, laying the foundation for social safety nets and economic policies that sought to prevent such a crisis in the future.