The Great Depression: Economics & History Resources

From the St. Louis Fed

Historical U.S. Data Series in FRED®

FRED® (Federal Reserve Economic Data) is the St. Louis Fed's database of hundreds of thousands of U.S. and international data series, including these historical series:

FRASER® Great Depression Documents

The Great Depression describes the period of economic downturn that took place from 1929 until about 1939. This period led to high unemployment rates, lowered stock values and reduced levels of demand for production materials. This collection includes Federal Reserve System documents from the Board of Governors released during this time period and other economic papers and speeches on the topic.

Feducation Video: Money and Inflation

How are the money supply and inflation related? And what does the Federal Reserve have to do with this relationship? This video reviews the functions of money, features an interactive auction that demonstrates the relationship between the money supply and inflation, then utilizes a simple equation to show how changes in the money supply affect the economy. The video also describes how the Fed uses monetary policy to achieve its dual mandate of maximum employment and price stability.

From the Federal Reserve Board

The Great Depression Interactive Timeline

This timeline from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System uses video clips to present a historical progression, beginning with the Great Depression and an analysis of the Fed's response, and culminating with the more recent financial crisis. Featuring:

  • Understanding the Great Depression (video): Former Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke describes the 1920s as the economic precursor to the Great Depression. Further, he describes the economic and financial conditions that characterized the Great Depression and explores its primary causes.
  • The Federal Reserve’s Response to the Great Depression (video): Bernanke evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the Fed’s attempts to mitigate the economic and financial crises that characterized and prolonged the Great Depression. He addresses policies put in place by the Roosevelt Administration which eased the problems that exacerbated and prolonged the Great Depression. Finally, he discusses the policy lessons learned from the Great Depression.

Former Chairman Bernanke's College Lecture Series

In March 2012, Bernanke delivered a four-part lecture series about the Federal Reserve and the financial crisis that emerged in 2007.

  1. Origins and Mission of the Federal Reserve
  2. The Federal Reserve after World War II
  3. The Federal Reserve's Response to the Financial Crisis
  4. The Aftermath of the Crisis

Money, Gold, and the Great Depression

Remarks by Bernanke at the H. Parker Willis Lecture in Economic Policy, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va., March 2, 2004.