<P> The depression started in the United States after a major fall in stock prices that began around September 4 , 1929 , and became worldwide news with the stock market crash of October 29 , 1929 ( known as Black Tuesday ) . Between 1929 and 1932 , worldwide gross domestic product ( GDP ) fell by an estimated 15 % . By comparison , worldwide GDP fell by less than 1 % from 2008 to 2009 during the Great Recession . Some economies started to recover by the mid-1930s . However , in many countries , the negative effects of the Great Depression lasted until the beginning of World War II . </P>
what event marks the beginning of the great depression
a major fall in stock prices that began around September 4 , 1929