Final answer:
The Great Depression is a major U.S. economic event that illustrates the unfortunate costs of a capitalist economy such as instability, unemployment, and social unrest.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major U.S. economic event that illustrates the unfortunate costs of a capitalist economy such as instability, unemployment, and social unrest is the Great Depression. During the 1930s, the United States experienced a severe economic downturn characterized by high levels of unemployment, business failures, and poverty. The Depression revealed the vulnerabilities of the capitalist system, as it led to widespread suffering and hardship for many Americans.