Stock markets crashed around the world and the Great Depression began. Within a year, unemployment was over 9 percent. Four years later, after massive government spending programs, unemployment reached 30 percent.

This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s  historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.