The Great Depression was the worst economic collapse in American history. Starting in 1929 and lasting all the way up until the 1930's, the stock market crashed, beginning the Great Depression. More than 5000 banks had to be shut down, and unemployment was at 25% of the United States population. 13 Million citizens were out of work by 1933. The biggest factor in the end of the Great Depression was the economies new focus on the world war, which caused an abrupt end to the Great Depression.