The Great Depression Begins

In the 1920s, lots of Americans were buying and selling little pieces of companies called stocks, and prices kept going up and up.

Then one October morning — a day people later called 'Black Tuesday' — the prices suddenly fell way, way down.

Many grown-ups lost their jobs, and lots of families had to be very careful with every penny and every crust of bread.

Neighbors helped neighbors: people shared soup at long tables, planted little vegetable gardens, and looked after each other's kids.

A kind president named Franklin Roosevelt started new programs to help, and slowly the country got back on its feet again.