What date is widely identified as the start of the 1929 Wall Street Crash?
Answer
October 24, 1929
October 24, 1929, is widely identified as the start of the 1929 Wall Street Crash. That Thursday became known as Black Thursday after heavy selling overwhelmed the New York Stock Exchange and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell sharply.
The panic followed a long period of rising share prices, widespread speculation, and extensive buying on margin. Investors could purchase stocks with borrowed money, making the market especially vulnerable when prices began to fall. Major bankers attempted to restore confidence by buying selected shares, and prices briefly recovered.
The selling intensified again on October 28 and October 29, the latter becoming known as Black Tuesday. The crash did not by itself cause the entire Great Depression, but it damaged confidence, reduced wealth, and contributed to the wider economic collapse. October 24 is the commonly cited opening date, while October 29 marks the most famous climax.