How well do you know the Great Depression in the U.S. and Its Impact? Check Quiz Questions and Answers with Facts

Did you know that the Great Depression, which began with the dramatic stock market crash of October 1929, represented the longest and most severe economic downturn in U.S. history? This period, lasting over a decade until the onset of World War II, fundamentally transformed American society, its economy, and the role of government. Millions faced widespread unemployment, poverty, and hardship, leading to innovative government programs aimed at relief, recovery, and reform. Understanding this era is crucial for comprehending modern economic policies and social safety nets in the United States. 

We've created a fun and educational quiz to test your knowledge of the Great Depression in the U.S. and its profound impact. Can you answer all the questions?

Read About- August 2025 Holidays and Important Days in the United States (Updated)

Quiz on the Great Depression in the U.S. and Its Impact with Answers

Here are 10 questions to test your knowledge of the Great Depression in the United States. Attempt the questions and find out how many questions you get correct.

Q1: In what year is the Great Depression generally considered to have begun in the United States?

a) 1918

b) 1925

c) 1929

d) 1933

Answer: c) 1929

Explanation: The Great Depression is widely marked by the stock market crash on "Black Thursday," October 24, 1929, and "Black Tuesday," October 29, 1929.

Q2: What was the highest unemployment rate reached in the United States during the Great Depression?

a) 25%

b) 15%

c) 10%

d) 40%

Answer: a) 25%

Explanation: At its peak in 1933, the unemployment rate in the United States reached approximately 25% of the labor force.

Q3: What was the name given to the temporary housing communities built by homeless people during the Great Depression?

a) Shantytowns

b) Hoovervilles

c) Breadline Villages

d) Depression Dwellings

Answer: b) Hoovervilles

Explanation: These makeshift shantytowns were sarcastically named "Hoovervilles" after President Herbert Hoover, whom many blamed for the economic crisis.

Q4: Which natural disaster intensified the hardships of the Great Depression in the Great Plains region?

a) The Great Mississippi Flood

b) The San Francisco Earthquake

c) The Galveston Hurricane 

d) The Dust Bowl

Answer: d) The Dust Bowl

Explanation: A severe drought combined with decades of unsustainable farming practices led to massive dust storms across the Great Plains, forcing many farmers to abandon their land.

Q5: Who was the U.S. President when the Great Depression began?

a) Franklin D. Roosevelt

b) Calvin Coolidge

c) Herbert Hoover

d) Woodrow Wilson

Answer: c) Herbert Hoover

Explanation: Herbert Hoover was the President of the United States when the stock market crashed in October 1929, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.

Q6: What was the name of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's series of programs aimed at combating the Great Depression?

a) The Fair Deal

b) The New Deal

c) The Great Society 

d) The Square Deal

Answer: b) The New Deal

Explanation: The New Deal was a series of ambitious programs and reforms launched by FDR beginning in 1933, focusing on "relief, recovery, and reform."

Q7: Which New Deal agency was responsible for insuring bank deposits and restoring public confidence in the banking system?

a) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

b) Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

c) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

d) Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA)

Answer: a) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

Explanation: The FDIC was created by the Banking Act of 1933 to insure individual bank deposits, preventing widespread bank runs that had plagued the financial system.

Q8: What specific economic practice contributed to the instability of the stock market leading up to the 1929 crash?

a) Diversification

b) Buying on margin

c) Short selling

d) Value investing

Answer: b) Buying on margin

Explanation: Buying on margin allowed investors to purchase stocks with borrowed money, inflating stock prices and creating a highly speculative and vulnerable market.

Q9: How did the Great Depression impact international trade?

a) It led to a significant increase in international trade.

b) It shifted trade primarily towards Asian markets. 

c) It had no significant impact on international trade.

d) It caused a sharp decline in international trade due to protectionist policies.

Answer: d) It caused a sharp decline in international trade due to protectionist policies.

Explanation: Countries adopted protectionist measures like high tariffs (e.g., Smoot-Hawley Tariff), which led to a dramatic reduction in global trade and worsened the economic crisis worldwide.

Q10: What event is largely credited with finally pulling the United States out of the Great Depression?

a) The end of the Dust Bowl

b) The full implementation of all New Deal programs

c) The entry of the U.S. into World War II

d) A sudden boom in the agricultural sector

Answer: c) The entry of the U.S. into World War II

Explanation: The massive mobilization for World War II, with its demand for industrial production and military personnel, significantly stimulated the economy and effectively ended the widespread unemployment and economic stagnation of the Great Depression.

Must read- What is the cause behind West Coast Tsunami Warnings in the U.S.?

How did you fare in the U.S. Great Depression quiz? Share it with friends and family to test their knowledge of the Great Depression!