What year did the Stock Market Crash occur, leading to the Great Depression?

The Stock Market Crash that precipitated the Great Depression occurred in 1929, making it a pivotal year in U.S. economic history. This crash was marked by a rapid decline in stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange, beginning with a significant drop on October 24, known as Black Thursday, followed by a more severe crash on October 29, referred to as Black Tuesday. The consequences of the crash were disastrous, leading to widespread bank failures, a dramatic drop in consumer spending, and massive unemployment.

This event set in motion a series of economic hardships that lasted for most of the 1930s, fundamentally altering the financial landscape of the United States and influencing economic policy, such as the New Deal initiatives under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The year 1929 is thus synonymous with the beginning of the Great Depression, making it the correct choice. Understanding the events of that year is crucial in studying the broader economic shifts and social impacts that followed.