: Easy access to credit allowed ordinary citizens to invest in the stock market, often through risky "buying on margin". The Hidden Fault Lines

: Wealth was concentrated; the top 5% of Americans held more income than the bottom 60%.

Following World War I, the United States entered an era of vigorous economic growth, with the nation's wealth more than doubling between 1920 and 1929. This "Roaring Twenties" period was defined by:

From Glamour to Gloom: The Tale of Two Decades The transition from the "Roaring Twenties" to the Great Depression remains one of the most dramatic shifts in history, moving from a peak of modern optimism to the depths of economic despair. The 1920s: A Decade of Unprecedented Boom

: Innovations like the assembly line made cars, radios, and household appliances affordable for the first time.

The illusion shattered in October 1929. On " Black Tuesday ," October 29, the stock market collapsed, wiping out billions in wealth. 5 Causes of the Great Depression - History.com

: Much of the era's prosperity was fueled by credit that consumers could not truly afford. The Great Crash and Global Collapse

: Farmers faced hardship long before 1929 due to overproduction and falling prices after wartime subsidies ended.