Timeline: The Great Depression

Period: Mar 1, 1929 to Dec 31, 1940

The Great Depression

Mar 4, 1929

President Hoover Inaugurated as President

President Hoover is inaugurated as the 31st President of the United States.

Oct 24, 1929

Stockmarket begins to crash

The stockmarket begins to decline.

Oct 29, 1929

Black Tuesday

The stockmarket crashes and the Great Depression officially begins.

Dec 31, 1929

GNP $104 bilion dollars, UR @ 3.3%

Dec 31, 1930

GNP 1930 $91 billion, UR @ 8.7%

Mar 3, 1931

The Star-Spangled Banner is adopted as the national anthem

Lyrics to Star-Spangled Banner

Dec 31, 1931

GNP $77 billion, UR @ 15.9%

Dec 31, 1932

GNP $59 billion dollars, UR @ 23.6%

Jan 23, 1933

Lame Duck Amendment/ 20th Amendment Ratified

Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution, sometimes called the “Lame Duck Amendment,” is ratified, moving the president's inauguration date from March 4 to Jan. 20

Mar 4, 1933

President Franklin D. Roosevelt Inaugurated

Dec 31, 1933

GNP $56 billion, UR @ 24.9%

Dec 31, 1934

GNP $66 billion, UR @ 21.7%

Apr 8, 1935

Works Progress Administration

Works Progress Administration is established.

Aug 14, 1935

Social Security Act

Social Security Act is passed.

Dec 31, 1935

GNP $73 billion, UR @ 20.1%

Dec 31, 1936

GNP $84 billion, UR @ 16.9%

Dec 31, 1937

GNP $92 billion, UR @ 14.3%

Jun 25, 1938

Fair Labor Standards Act passed

Setting the first minimum wage in the U.S. at 25 cents per hour.

Dec 31, 1938

GNP $86 billion, UR @ 19.0%

Dec 31, 1939

End of Great Depression, WWII on horizon