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The stock market crashes, beginning the Great Depression
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The Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act is passed, further damaging the economy.
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The Dust Bowl, caused by prolonged drought and poor farming practices, begins to take hold in the Great Plains.
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The Bonus Army, a group of WWI veterans, marches on Washington for better compensation, and is violently dispersed by the military.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt is inaugurated as President and launches the New Deal to try to address the economic crisis.
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The Federal Housing Administration is established to help people buy homes.
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The Social Security Act is passed, providing retirement benefits to workers.
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The General Motors sit-down strike occurs, a pivotal moment in labor organizing.
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The Supreme Court strikes down key parts of the New Deal, leading Roosevelt to propose packing the court.
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The Fair Labor Standards Act is passed, establishing minimum wage and maximum hours.