The Wall Street Crash
I can explain the causes and significance of the Wall Street Crash.
The Wall Street Crash
I can explain the causes and significance of the Wall Street Crash.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Speculation led to increases in private debt and shares became overvalued.
- American goods were overproduced in the US but tariffs made them too expensive for European markets.
- Share prices collapsed during the Wall Street Crash, ruining many speculators and shareholders.
- 659 banks collapsed in 1929.
- Bank failures hurt millions of Americans, including those who had not traded in shares.
Keywords
Stock market - a stock market is the place where investors can buy and sell shares in companies
Speculation - speculation is when investors purchase shares, often with borrowed money, in the hope of selling them off in future for a profit
Tariff - a tariff is a government tax on foreign-produced goods sold in a country
Shares - some companies sell shares in order to raise money; people who own shares in a company receive part of the company’s profits
Export - an export is a good which a country sells abroad
Common misconception
Only shareholders and speculators lost out from the Wall Street Crash.
Once speculators went bankrupt, they were unable to repay their debts to banks causing them to fail. Bank failures wiped out the savings of millions of Americans.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The Wall Street Crash, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The Wall Street Crash, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the USA bust years: how did the Great Depression affect the American people? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
when investors bought shares but borrowed money to pay 90% of the cost
buying shares in the hope their value rises and re-selling them
the place where investors can buy and sell shares in companies