What is the great depression of the 1930's?

The Great Depression began with the crash of the stock market in October of 1929 ending the 1920's era of prosperity.  The depression deepened with the failure of thousands of banks throughout the country.  Many people lost their entire savings.  It was the most severe and longest depression the country or the world had ever seen and it was aggravated by climatic factors including a dust-bowl that ruined the farming economy of the Midwest at the same time.  The depression continued throughout the thirties despite the FDR's attempts to stimulate the economy.  It was not until World War II and the wartime demand for products, that the economy really began to recover.