Defining Moments in 20th Century American History

The Great Depression and the Wall Street Crash of 1929

The stock market collapsed in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, leading to widespread American poverty during the subsequent economic depression. The 1920s had seen massive stock market expansion, which peaked in August 1929.

The End of the Roaring Twenties

The Crash marked the definitive end of the Roaring Twenties. The economic fallout was immediate and severe:

• Unemployment soared, reaching approximately 13 million people.
• Investors lost their money in the Crash and could not pay their debts.
• Many banks closed, causing ordinary people to lose their life savings.
• People lost hope for the future and were forced to live in primitive conditions, often traveling desperately in search of work.

Signs frequently read, "No Men Wanted." This era was characterized by overproduction—too many goods were being made, and not enough people had the money to buy consumer goods like cars and clothes.

Defining the Great Depression

The Great Depression of the 1930s was a worldwide economic decrease that began in 1929 and lasted until about 1939. It was the most severe depression ever experienced by the industrialized Western world. Originating in the United States, the Great Depression caused economic declines globally. In the U.S., it was considered the hardest problem faced by Americans since the Civil War.

John F. Kennedy: Presidency and Assassination

John F. Kennedy (JFK) was born in 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts, and attended Harvard College. He served as the 35th U.S. President, having previously served in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He was the youngest man and the first Roman Catholic to hold office.

The Road to the White House

Kennedy announced his candidacy in January 1960 and was nominated for president on July 13, 1960. During his tenure, he faced significant foreign crises, notably those concerning Cuba and Berlin.

The Tragedy in Dallas

Kennedy was aware of the dangers inherent in being president. Upon his arrival in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, he was assassinated. The text notes that anyone wanting to kill a president needed a high building and a rifle with a telescopic lens.

It is generally believed that Lee Harvey Oswald (1939–1963), using a rifle equipped with a telescopic lens, was the person who fired on the president’s car.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement

Martin Luther King, Jr. stands as one of the twentieth century's best defenders of nonviolent social change. He dedicated his life to writing, speaking, and organizing nonviolent protests to call attention to racial discrimination and to demand civil rights for African-Americans.

The Quest for Equality

In 1963, in Alabama, King guided peaceful demonstrations that were met with brutal force, including white police officers using police dogs and fire hoses.

Later that year, in Washington, D.C., he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, envisioning a world where people were no longer divided by race.

This powerful movement led Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The same year, King himself was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. His life symbolizes the quest for equality and nondiscrimination that lies at the heart of the American dream.