The '''Great Depression''' was a severe, worldwide economic downturn lasting from 1929 to the early 1940s. The primary cause was the failure of the [[Federal Reserve System|Fed]] to carry out its given role of preventing [[bank run]]s. Nearly half the nation's banks failed, as panicked depositors withdrew their life savings, reducing the [[money supply]] and retarding [[investment]]. | The '''Great Depression''' was a severe, worldwide economic downturn lasting from 1929 to the early 1940s. The primary cause was the failure of the [[Federal Reserve System|Fed]] to carry out its given role of preventing [[bank run]]s. Nearly half the nation's banks failed, as panicked depositors withdrew their life savings, reducing the [[money supply]] and retarding [[investment]]. |