On This Day: Stock Market Crash, 1929

On October 24, 1929, the stock market experienced its first major crisis in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, eventually leading to the Great Depression. On that day, known as Black Thursday, stock prices fell sharply as investors rushed to sell off their stocks. Stocks were being traded at such a high volume that the ticker tape on which they were printed showed hours-long delays. Five days later, on Black Tuesday, the stock market experienced the greatest crash in its history.

Discover essays, primary source documents, and multimedia about the Great Depression on the Gilder Lehrman website, here.