What caused the Great Depression?

The Great Depression was caused by a combination of factors, beginning with the stock market crash of 1929, which led to widespread panic and a sharp decline in investment. This was compounded by bank failures, reduced consumer spending, and a global slowdown in trade. A key contributor was the drought in the United States, known as the Dust Bowl, which severely affected agriculture and exacerbated economic hardship. These events triggered a chain reaction that spread across the world, leading to prolonged unemployment and poverty in many countries.