The 1930s was a decade marked by the Great Depression, a severe worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted throughout the 1930s. This period saw high unemployment rates, widespread poverty, and significant changes in government policies aimed at economic recovery, particularly in the United States under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Culturally, the 1930s was a time of innovation in art, music, and film. The rise of Hollywood led to the popularity of movies, with iconic films like The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind. Additionally, the decade saw the emergence of influential music genres, including jazz and blues, which shaped American culture.