The 1929 Wall Street Crash reached its infamous Black Tuesday on October 29, 1929.
Black Tuesday followed Black Thursday on October 24 and Black Monday on October 28. On October 29, approximately 16 million shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange, a trading volume that was enormous for the period. Prices fell sharply as investors rushed to sell.
The crash did not by itself create the entire Great Depression, but it became its most famous financial symbol. The downturn also reflected bank failures, falling demand, excessive borrowing, and weaknesses in the wider economy. A common mix-up is treating Black Tuesday as the only crash day; the selling unfolded across several days in late October.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average had reached a pre-crash peak in September 1929 and then lost much of its value over the following years. The event helped lead to major changes in U.S. financial regulation and investor protection.