The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted throughout the 1930s. It was marked by a dramatic decline in industrial production, widespread unemployment, and significant drops in consumer spending. The stock market crash of October 1929 is often cited as the catalyst for this devastating period. Governments around the world struggled to respond effectively, leading to social unrest and changes in economic policies. In the United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented the New Deal, a series of programs aimed at recovery and reform. The Great Depression reshaped economies and societies, leaving a lasting legacy on global history.