Great Depression

Speculation

Buying stocks or assets with the hope that their price will rise quickly so they can be sold for a profit, even though it involves high risk.

Buying on Margin

– Purchasing stocks with borrowed money from a broker, paying only part of the price upfront.

Buying on Credit

– Purchasing something now and agreeing to pay for it later, often in installments.

Great Depression

– A severe worldwide economic crisis that began in 1929 and lasted through the 1930s, marked by massive unemployment, poverty, and failing banks.

Black Tuesday

– October 29, 1929, the day the U.S. stock market crashed dramatically, helping trigger the Great Depression.

Stock

– A type of investment that represents ownership in a company.

Share

– A single unit of stock; owning a share means you own a small part of the company.

Herbert

Hoover – The 31st President of the United States (1929–1933) who was president when the Great Depression began.

Franklin Roosevelt

– The 32nd President of the United States (1933–1945) who created programs to help the country recover from the Great Depression.

New Deal

– A series of government programs and reforms created by Franklin Roosevelt to provide relief, recovery, and reform during the Great Depression.

Bonus Army

– A group of World War I veterans who marched on Washington, D.C. in 1932 demanding early payment of bonuses promised to them.

Fireside Chat

– Informal radio talks given by Franklin Roosevelt to explain government policies and reassure the publi

Brain Trust

– A group of advisors and experts who helped Franklin Roosevelt develop New Deal policies.

Hoovervilles

– Shantytowns built by homeless people during the Great Depression, named after President Hoover.

Dust Bowl

– A series of severe dust storms in the 1930s that destroyed farmland in the Great Plains due to drought and poor farming practices.

Liberal

– Someone who generally supports a larger government role in solving economic and social problems.

Conservative

– Someone who generally supports a smaller government role and prefers traditional policies and institutions.