The document provides an overview of the global economic depression known as the Great Depression that began in 1929 and lasted through World War II. It discusses several key causes, including overproduction in industry and agriculture which lowered prices and increased unemployment, the crash of the American stock market, and demands for international loan payments which destabilized European economies. The results were widespread bank failures around the world, plummeting agricultural and industrial production, high unemployment rates of 30% in some countries, and a major slowdown in global trade with exports dropping by 50% or more in many areas.

1. A BRIEF Look at the
Global Economic Depression
“The Great Depression”
Beginning in 1929 and lasting
into World War II

2. Causes of the Depression of the 1930s
World economy was heavily influenced by
US loans and trade during & after WWI.
In the 1920s, the US economy boomed …but
• industry & agriculture overproduced as
European nations rebounded after WWI which
caused prices to decline & unemployment to
increase
• demand decreased for consumer goods (gap
between rich and poor in the US)

3. Causes of the Depression of the 1930s
• the American stock market “crashed”
• And businesses and banks began to fail

4. • Demands for payments by
the US on international
loans and reparations
destabilized European
economies.

5. The Results
• Banks failed . . .
– Austria’s national bank went
bankrupt
– All German banks closed for
a month
– Over 2000 banks failed in
the US
• Agricultural and Industrial
production dropped

7. The Results
• Unemployment increased
and wages dropped
– In US and Germany
unemployment reached
30%
– In Britain 2.8 million were
unemployed
• Global Trade slowed
– Value of exports from Latin
America dropped 50%
– Southeast Asian rubber
exports dropped over 50%
– Japan’s total exports
dropped 50%