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The Great Depression: Causes and Effects

An 8th-grade social studies worksheet exploring the causes, key events, and lasting effects of the Great Depression in the United States.

Grade 8 Social studies HistoryGreat Depression
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Multiple ChoiceFill in the BlanksTrue / FalseShort AnswerMatching

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NCSS.D2.His.4.6-8NCSS.D2.His.5.6-8Great DepressionUS HistoryEconomicsGrade 8
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The Great Depression: Causes and Effects

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Date:

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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Use complete sentences for short answer questions.

1. What event is often considered the start of the Great Depression?

a

The attack on Pearl Harbor

b

The stock market crash of 1929

c

The end of World War I

d

The election of Franklin D. Roosevelt

2. What was a major cause of the Dust Bowl?

a

Excessive rainfall and flooding

b

Poor farming practices and drought

c

Industrial pollution

d

Volcanic eruptions

3. President   introduced the New Deal programs to combat the Great Depression.

4. Shanty towns built by homeless people during the Great Depression were often called  .

5. The Great Depression led to a significant increase in international trade.

T

True

F

False

6. The New Deal included programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

T

True

F

False

7. Briefly explain how overproduction and underconsumption contributed to the Great Depression.

8. Describe one major social impact of the Great Depression on American families.

Match the term with its definition.

9. Black Tuesday

 

a. A severe economic downturn

10. Recession

 

b. The day the stock market crashed in 1929

11. Drought

 

c. A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall