What event is considered the trigger of the Great Depression?

The stock market crash of 1929 is widely recognized as the trigger that initiated the Great Depression. On October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday, the stock market experienced a catastrophic decline, leading to a loss of billions of dollars in wealth. This sudden collapse not only marked a loss of confidence among investors but also had profound ripple effects throughout the economy.

As businesses and banks failed, unemployment soared, and consumers drastically reduced spending due to fears of financial instability. This environment of panic and reduced economic activity paved the way for a deep and prolonged economic downturn that characterized the Great Depression. Other options, such as the signing of the Treaty of Versailles or the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, are pivotal historical events but are not directly linked to the economic crisis that unfolded in the United States. Similarly, while the Dust Bowl disaster exacerbated the suffering of many during the Great Depression, it was the stock market's collapse that set the initial stage for the economic turmoil that followed.