The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted throughout the 1930s. It started with the Stock Market Crash in October 1929, which led to a significant decline in consumer spending and investment. Unemployment rates soared, and many businesses failed, causing widespread hardship. Governments around the world implemented various measures to combat the economic crisis. In the United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced the New Deal, a series of programs aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform. The Great Depression had lasting effects on economic policies and social structures globally.