When the stock market crashed in 1929, public panic ensued. However, several other factors had contributed to the fragile economic climate. A decline in postwar trade had created product surpluses and depression in agriculture. A lack of centralized banking regulation characterized by poor institutional lending practices resulted in widespread bank failures, which led to depositor runs on banks. An uneven distribution of national wealth further contributed to the social and economic devastation that would leave millions of Americans in despair.

You will be assigned topics that reflect the issues surrounding the causes of the Great Depression. Use what you have learned to write a Research Report in which you analyze how factors such as the stock market, agricultural depression, and bank failures led to the economic collapse of the late 1920s and 1930s. To prepare for your report, you will research elements such as the absence of centralized regulation in the farming, securities, and banking industries.

Look at the photograph below. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

The introduction of the tractor led to increased efficiency in agricultural production.

• What factors might have caused farmers to purchase new mechanized equipment, such as the tractor?
• How could the widespread purchase of such equipment contribute to depression in the agricultural community?

Use the Daily Life through History articles listed on the right to research factors leading to the Great Depression. You will focus on the stock market, farming issues, and bank failure. Examine the Timeline. As you read, keep your assigned topics in mind. Remember that your report will need to include specific details from your readings.

Use the Main Idea and Details Chart to organize your information. In the large box, write Great Depression. Write stock market, banks, and agriculture in the remaining boxes. Also fill in details about the impact each factor had on the American economy, for example investor fears.

Write your essay. Be sure to lay out a coherent thesis detailing the way in which each of the factors contributed to economic decline. Remember to connect ideas as appropriate, demonstrating your understanding of how the causes of the Great Depression are related.

Your teacher will use these questions to assess your performance:

• Did you include a clear thesis?
• Did you support your thesis with factual details and historical evidence?
• Did you ensure that your report was logically organized?
• Did you follow rules of grammar and style?