preview

Black Tuesday In 1929 And The Stock Market Crash Of 1929

Good Essays

On October 29, 1929, the U.S. stock market crashed, the day of the crash became infamously known as “Black Tuesday.” The “Great Crash,” otherwise known as the “Wall Street Crash of 1929” and the “Stock Market Crash of 1929” marked the very beginning of the Great Depression. Over 40 percent of all banks (approximately 10,000) failed in the next two years, resulting in losses of over $2 billion. Stocks were devalued by more than 80 percent, and unemployment went up to almost 25 percent. The information listed is what led up to the crash of the stock market, possibilities to prevent the Great Crash, and what the consequences of the crash were. In the decade known as the “Roaring Twenties,” the American economy was booming, and living was easy. The Dow Jones stock average soared throughout the 1920s. From 1921 to 1929, the average rocketed from 60 to 400, creating many new millionaires. Many investors were aggressively purchasing shares due to the great economic boom. Though investors foolishly mortgaged their homes and invested their life savings into hot stocks. Stocks were profitable for everyone, from bankers to the commonwealth. Banks were making money from investors purchasing stocks on margin (the borrowing of stock for financial gain, for every dollar invested, a margin user would borrow nine dollars worth of stock.) This use of leverage meant that if stock increased by one percent, the investor would make ten percent. Many investors never thought a stock

Get Access