Question 1

True or false: During The Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover enacted the New Deal to combat the crisis.

Accepted Answer

False. The New Deal was a set of programs created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt after he took office in 1933. Hoover was president before him.

Question 2

True or false: The Great Depression was mostly an American problem and had little effect on other countries.

Accepted Answer

False. The Depression was a global crisis. It caused bank failures, unemployment, and political upheaval in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and elsewhere.

Question 3

True or false: The Great Depression pushed US unemployment to a record 33% of the workforce.

Accepted Answer

False. The peak unemployment rate in the US during the Depression was about 25% in 1933. The 33% figure is a common exaggeration.

Question 4

True or false: The Great Depression prompted the repeal of Prohibition with the 21st Amendment in 1933, as a way to boost tax revenue.

Accepted Answer

True. The 21st Amendment ended Prohibition in 1933, partly because the Depression created a need for new tax sources and jobs.

Question 5

True or false: The Great Depression was caused primarily by the 1929 stock market crash.

Accepted Answer

False. The crash was a trigger, not the sole cause. Underlying factors included bank failures, overproduction, consumer debt, and international trade collapse.

Question 6

True or false: The Great Depression led to the creation of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in 1933 to insure bank deposits.

Accepted Answer

True. Bank runs were rampant during the Depression. The FDIC was established in 1933 under the Glass-Steagall Act to restore confidence.

Question 7

True or false: The Great Depression saw the completion of the Empire State Building in 1931, which was initially nicknamed the 'Empty State Building' due to low occupancy.

Accepted Answer

True. The Empire State Building opened in 1931 during the Depression. Many offices remained vacant, earning the nickname 'Empty State Building'.

Question 8

True or false: During the Great Depression, US life expectancy rose from 57.1 years in 1929 to 63.3 years in 1933.

Accepted Answer

True. Historical US vital statistics show life expectancy at birth increased from 57.1 in 1929 to 63.3 in 1933, likely due to declining infectious diseases and reduced industrial activity during the Depression.

The Great Depression Trivia Questions