The Causes of the Great Depression and Stock Market Crash of 1929

The stock market crash of 1929 was an event that virtually crippled the nation's economy, sending America into a state of panic and poverty. But the events leading up to --and possibly becoming the causes of-- the crash were what really would "make it or break it". Prior to 1929, the American people were engrossed in the stock market. It was a seemingly easy and quick way to make big bucks, and anyone could do it. Borrow some money on margin, invest it in a company, and make it big. Or was it really that easy? Little did the American people know, all of their buying on margin and using their house deeds or vehicular pink slips as barter was running the economy ragged.…