U.S History Timeline: The Great Depression

Black Tuesday-Stock Market Crash

Oct 29, 1929

Postwar prosperity ends in the 1929 stock market crash. Plummeting stock prices led to losses between 1929and 1931 of an estimated $50 billion and started the worst American depression in the nation's history.

Planet Pluto is Discovered

Feb 18, 1930

Pluto is discovered and is pronounced the official 9th planet from the sun also the smallest.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff

Jun 17, 1930

An act sponsored by Senator Hawley and Representative Smoot on over 20,000 imported goods to record levels.

Star-Spangled Banner becomes the national anthem

Mar 3, 1931

Star-Spangled banner originally a poem written at the defense of Fort McHenry became the national anthem unde Woodrow Wilson

Empire State Building is Completed

May 1, 1931

Itense competition winner in New Yorl for world's tallest building and took just under 15 months.

Lindbergh Baby Kidnapped

Mar 1, 1932

At 10:00 pm Chas, A. Lindbergh is to find that his 10 month old toddler has been abducted from his crib in his home in East Amwell New Jersey. Over two months later the child is found deceased not far from the home.

Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President

Nov 1, 1932

Roosevelt is elected and wins against Hoover in the 1932 election due to his New Deal proposal.

21st Amendment

Feb 20, 1933

The 21st Amendment is ratified ending prohibition and raising the original legal drinking age to 21.

Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) established

Jun 6, 1934

Enforced the federal securities laws and regulated the security industry.

Social Security Act

Aug 15, 1935

Stated that any government system that provides monitary assisstance to people with inadequateor no income.

Hoover Dam completed

Sep 30, 1935

Hoover dam was created and dedicated to the people of the great depression.

FDR re-elected

Jan 20, 1936

Roosevelt had won the greatest electoral landslide in history against his opponent Alf Landon

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell published

Jun 30, 1936

Occupies an important place in any history of 20th century American literature.

Jessie Owens wins four gold medals at Berlin Olympics

Aug 3, 1936

African American; Jessie Owens won the 100 meter, 200 meter,long jump, 4x100 meter relay and four gold medals in front of Hitler in Germany.;

Hindenburg Crashes

May 6, 1937

A german passenger airship caught fire and was destroyed takeing tens of lives with it.

Amelia Earhart Disappears

Jul 2, 1937

Tried to be the first woman to ever try to fly around the world but ended up disapearing instead.

War of the Worlds Broadcast

Oct 30, 1938

Was preformed over radio as a holloween series special.

Grapes of Wrath by Johnsteinbeck published

Mar 1, 1939

Won the National Book Award

The Wizard of Oz released

Aug 12, 1939

One of the first few movies made in technicolor.

Germany Invades Poland

Sep 1, 1939

Germany invades poland to eradicate jews