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Quizzes > History > Modern History

Ready to Master the Great Depression? Take the Quiz!

Think you can ace this Great Depression trivia? Start the history quiz now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper art layers of ledger pages coins falling graphs and cracked earth on coral background for Great Depression quiz

Ready to test your knowledge of one of America's toughest economic chapters? Our Great Depression quiz invites history buffs, students, and trivia lovers to dive into the causes, impacts, and stories that shaped the 1930s. Whether you're breezing through our Great Depression trivia or tackling our challenging Great Depression MCQ format, you'll sharpen your understanding of US History quiz topics and uncover little”known facts - from soup kitchens during the era to bold New Deal programs . Think you can ace the Great Depression history quiz? Click now to start and prove you've got what it takes!

In what year did the Great Depression begin with the U.S. stock market crash?
1929
1925
1932
1919
The Great Depression is widely considered to have begun in 1929 after the dramatic Wall Street crash, which triggered a severe global economic downturn. That October event marks the start of the worst economic crisis of the 20th century. It led to massive bank failures, business bankruptcies, and a steep rise in unemployment. Source
Which day is famously known as 'Black Tuesday' during the stock market crash?
October 29, 1929
October 16, 1929
October 21, 1929
October 24, 1929
Black Tuesday refers to October 29, 1929, when the U.S. stock market completely collapsed, signaling the onset of the Great Depression. Share prices plummeted and billions of dollars were lost in a single day. This event followed Black Thursday and Black Monday, further intensifying financial panic. Source
Who was the President of the United States when the Great Depression began?
Herbert Hoover
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Calvin Coolidge
Harry S. Truman
Herbert Hoover was President when the Great Depression began in 1929, serving from 1929 to 1933. Despite his efforts to stimulate the economy, his policies were widely criticized for failing to end the downturn. His administration’s perceived inaction contributed to his defeat in the 1932 election. Source
Which speculative practice in the 1920s contributed to the stock market’s vulnerability?
Buying on margin
Day trading
Short selling
Diversification
Buying on margin allowed investors to purchase stocks with borrowed funds, inflating stock prices beyond real economic values. When confidence fell, margin calls forced massive sell?offs, accelerating the crash. This leverage made the market extremely unstable in 1929. Source
Which series of programs did Franklin D. Roosevelt introduce to combat the Depression?
The New Deal
The Square Deal
The Fair Deal
The Great Society
The New Deal was a set of federal programs and reforms launched by FDR beginning in 1933 to provide relief, recovery, and reform. It included agencies like the CCC, WPA, and TVA to create jobs and rebuild infrastructure. The New Deal reshaped the federal government’s role in the economy. Source
What federal agency was created in 1933 to insure bank deposits?
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA)
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
The FDIC was established by the Banking Act of 1933 to insure individual bank deposits and restore trust in the American banking system. By guaranteeing deposits, it prevented bank runs and promoted financial stability. Today, it remains a key protector of depositors. Source
Which act sought to reduce agricultural overproduction and support farm prices?
Agricultural Adjustment Act
Social Security Act
Wagner Act
National Industrial Recovery Act
The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 paid farmers to reduce crop area, aiming to decrease surpluses and boost prices. Critics argued it hurt sharecroppers and tenant farmers. Despite controversies, it was central to the New Deal’s strategy for rural relief. Source
At its peak in 1933, approximately what percentage of the U.S. labor force was unemployed?
25%
10%
40%
15%
Unemployment reached about 25% of the U.S. workforce by 1933, the highest level during the Depression. This massive joblessness deeply affected American families and communities. It drove many to seek government assistance and participate in New Deal programs. Source
In which year did President Roosevelt declare a nationwide bank holiday?
1933
1932
1934
1931
FDR declared a four-day national bank holiday upon taking office in March 1933 to halt the banking crisis. This pause allowed the government to inspect and reopen solvent banks, restoring public confidence. The move was part of his First Hundred Days reforms. Source
Which New Deal agency was tasked with bringing electricity to rural areas?
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
The TVA, established in 1933, built dams and power plants in the Tennessee Valley to provide cheap electricity, control floods, and modernize agriculture. It was a pioneering example of regional development and public power utilities. The TVA remains one of the largest public power providers in the U.S. Source
Which John Steinbeck novel depicted the plight of Dust Bowl migrant workers?
The Grapes of Wrath
Of Mice and Men
East of Eden
The Sun Also Rises
Published in 1939, The Grapes of Wrath follows the Joad family as they flee Dust Bowl conditions in Oklahoma for California. Steinbeck’s novel highlighted social injustice and the human cost of economic collapse. It won the Pulitzer Prize and inspired political debate over relief policies. Source
Which protectionist law passed in 1930 worsened the global Depression?
Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act
Dawes Plan
Kellogg-Briand Pact
Geneva Convention
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 raised U.S. tariffs on thousands of imported goods, prompting retaliatory tariffs abroad. This collapse in trade deepened the worldwide economic slump. Historians view it as a key policy misstep of the era. Source
By approximately what percentage did GDP fall in many industrialized nations between 1929 and 1932?
30%
10%
50%
20%
Between 1929 and 1932, GDP in many advanced economies declined by roughly 30%, reflecting plunging production, trade, and investment. This sharp contraction marked the most severe economic downturn in modern history. It illustrates the Depression’s scale compared to typical recessions. Source
Which economist’s theories on government spending influenced Depression-era policy?
John Maynard Keynes
Milton Friedman
Friedrich Hayek
Adam Smith
Keynes advocated that during economic downturns, governments should use deficit spending to boost demand and shorten recessions. Although his landmark work came in 1936, policymakers increasingly turned to his ideas during the Depression. Keynesian economics reshaped fiscal policy worldwide. Source
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the causes of the Great Depression -

    Pinpoint the economic and social factors, such as stock market speculation and banking failures, that triggered the Great Depression.

  2. Identify key events and policies -

    Recognize major milestones and government responses, including the New Deal programs, that shaped the era's trajectory.

  3. Analyze societal and economic impacts -

    Examine how unemployment, poverty, and shifts in industry altered American lives and communities during the 1930s.

  4. Recall important dates and milestones -

    Memorize significant events on the Depression timeline, from the 1929 crash to recovery efforts in the late 1930s.

  5. Evaluate historical lessons -

    Assess how lessons from the Great Depression can inform modern economic policy and personal financial decision-making.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Root Causes of the Crisis -

    Over-speculation in the stock market and rampant margin trading led to inflated share prices and massive losses when investors faced margin calls. Agricultural overproduction and declining commodity prices further weakened rural incomes - a handy SMOB mnemonic (Stock Market, OverBORrowing) helps remember these triggers for Great Depression trivia.

  2. Black Tuesday and the 1929 Crash -

    On October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday, the market plunged and erased roughly $14 billion in value (about $200 billion today), shattering public confidence and triggering widespread selling. Mastering this key date will give you an edge on any Great Depression MCQ or US History quiz.

  3. Bank Failures & the Banking Holiday -

    Between 1929 and 1933, over 4,000 banks failed, wiping out depositor savings and deepening the deflationary spiral. Franklin D. Roosevelt's March 1933 Banking Holiday halted withdrawals, restored trust, and set the stage for FDIC creation - an essential fact for your Great Depression history quiz.

  4. New Deal's "Three R's" Framework -

    The New Deal's Relief, Recovery, and Reform initiatives (the "3 R's") shaped agencies like the CCC, WPA, and FDIC to provide jobs, stimulate industry, and stabilize finance. Using the simple "3 R's" mnemonic ensures you remember each policy pillar for any Great Depression quiz.

  5. Socioeconomic Impact & Lasting Legacy -

    Unemployment soared to nearly 25% by 1933 and GDP fell by about 30%, illustrating the Depression's severity. Programs like Social Security and expanded federal regulation emerged to safeguard citizens - key points for acing your Great Depression trivia and US History quiz alike.

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