Question

How did the stock market crash affect the economy and become a defining event of the era?
Responses

Many companies in the United States were bought by foreign investors, which led to an upswing in the economy.
Many companies in the United States were bought by foreign investors, which led to an upswing in the economy.

Companies lowered prices to drive up demand for their products, causing the Great Depression.
Companies lowered prices to drive up demand for their products, causing the Great Depression.

The government lowered tariffs to encourage trade, which backfired and led to war.
The government lowered tariffs to encourage trade, which backfired and led to war.

Many people lost their savings due to the resulting bank closures, leading to a decade-long depression.

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The stock market crash of 1929 had a profound impact on the economy and became a defining event of the era mainly through the following response:

**Many people lost their savings due to the resulting bank closures, leading to a decade-long depression.**

The crash led to a severe loss of confidence in the financial system, causing bank runs and closures. As banks failed, individuals lost their life savings, which hindered consumer spending and investment. This contributed to widespread unemployment, decreased production, and ultimately the Great Depression, a severe economic downturn that lasted throughout the 1930s. The resulting hardships shaped economic policies and societal norms for years to come.