The year 1929 marked the start of the Great Depression in the United States, following the stock market crash on October 29, popularly known as Black Tuesday. The crash led to a severe economic downturn characterized by massive unemployment, widespread bank failures, decline in production, and global trade collapse. It exposed the vulnerabilities of the U.S. economy and prompted significant governmental response, including the New Deal programs initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s to restore economic stability. The Great Depression fundamentally altered American economic policies and societal structures, shaping future government interventions in the economy and setting the stage for extensive social reforms.