Which 1929 U.S. market collapse began with Black Thursday and helped start the Great Depression?

The 1929 U.S. market collapse that began with Black Thursday and helped start the Great Depression was the Wall Street Crash of 1929.

After years of rising share prices and widespread speculation, confidence weakened in October 1929. On October 24, heavy selling on the New York Stock Exchange became known as Black Thursday. Temporary efforts by major bankers to support prices failed to restore confidence.

Selling intensified on October 28 and 29, dates known as Black Monday and Black Tuesday. The crash did not by itself cause every feature of the Great Depression, but it severely damaged banks, businesses, investors, and consumer confidence. The economic downturn became international as trade and credit contracted.

The crash is sometimes called the Great Crash, but that name can be confused with later market collapses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average did not regain its September 1929 peak until 1954, showing how prolonged the consequences were.