Great Depression Graphs
Directions: Use the following charts to create three different line graphs that show
the given data.
The Stock Market Crashes:
During the Great Depression stock prices fell drastically causing many people to get
scared and sell their shares. This only caused the stocks to fall more, until they finally hit
bottom in 1932. When the stock market crashed in October 1929 many U.S. banks lost
money that they invested in the stock market. People began taking their money out of
banks causing the banks to go “belly up.” Many people completely lost their savings,
eventually causing the banks to shut their doors.
Stock Prices, 1925 – 1933
Price Index
Year
11
1925
14
1926
15
1927
20
1928
26
1929
22
1930
13
1931
8
1932
9
1933
14
1934
1. During which year were stock prices the lowest? __________________________
2. What year were stock prices the highest? ________________________________
3. What year did stock prices begin to rise after the crash? _____________________
World Trade during the Depression:
After World War I many countries’ economies suffered. In order to promote wealth in
their own country their government raised high tariffs on imported goods. This
discouraged people from buying foreign goods and caused World Trade to fall off
sharply.
World Trade, 1929 – 1933
Trade (in billions of dollars)
Year
36
1929
28
1930
21
1931
13
1932
11
1933
1. How far did World Trade decrease between 1929 and 1933? _________________
2. How high was World Trade in 1929? ___________________________________
3. How low was World Trade in 1933? ____________________________________
Unemployment during the Depression:
People lost most of their savings when the stock market crashed. Many people could not
make payments on their homes/farms and became homeless. Factories were still
producing large amounts of goods, but no one could buy them. Factory owners had to cut
back production, as well as let people go from their jobs. The unemployment rate sky
rocketed around the world, only causing more economic problems.
Unemployment Rate, 1928 – 1938
United States
Great Britain
Germany
Percent of
Year
Percent of
Year
Percent of
Year
Work Force
Work Force
Work Force
4
1928
11
1928
8
1928
2
1929
11
1929
13
1929
9
1930
15
1930
15
1930
15
1931
22
1931
23
1931
24
1932
23
1932
30
1932
25
1933
21
1933
27
1933
23
1934
18
1934
15
1934
20
1935
16
1935
12
1935
17
1936
14
1936
8
1936
14
1937
11
1937
4
1937
19
1938
13
1938
2
1938
* Graph all three countries on the same graph. Use a different color for each country.
Make sure you include a key on your graph.
1.
2.
3.
Which country had the highest percentage of unemployment on the graph?
__________________
What year had the highest rate of unemployment? __________________
What year did the United States have the highest rate of unemployment?
_____________