Great Depression

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/great-depression

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the global economic downturn?The most severe economic depression in modern history, affecting nearly every country
2. What caused the Great Depression?It began after a big stock market crash in 1929, but deeper problems like too much speculation, unequal wealth, protectionist trade, and weak banks made the economy collapse.
3. Why did so many people lose their jobs during the Great Depression?The economy shrank, causing unemployment to rise to about 25% in the U.S., leaving many families without work and income.

Speculative Bubble: A situation where asset prices rise rapidly, driven by expectations of further price increases, rather than underlying value.
Protectionism: Economic policy of restricting imports from other countries through tariffs, quotas, or other means.
Keynesian Economics: Economic theory advocating for government intervention to moderate economic fluctuations and stimulate demand during downturns.