Description
A myth-by-myth reassessment of the Great Depression that challenges what readers think they know about its causes, cures, and consequences.
Rather than retelling a familiar narrative, The Great Depression: Facts and Fictions dismantles eleven of the most persistent claims surrounding the crisis, from the supposed moral failings of the 1920s to the belief that World War II single-handedly ended economic hardship. Each chapter isolates a widely accepted interpretation and tests it against historical evidence, policy analysis, and comparative context.
Covering debates over the stock market crash, Herbert Hoover's presidency, the coherence and intent of the New Deal, and the role of Keynesian economics, the book clarifies where popular memory diverges from the historical record. It also situates US responses alongside international approaches, revealing which features of Depression-era policy were distinctive and which were not.
Designed for students, educators, and general readers seeking clarity rather than caricature, this book offers a structured, argument-driven guide to one of the most consequential periods in modern economic history.
Accessibility Information
Additional accessibility information
- PDF/UA-2, 1.4
- accessibility@bloomsbury.com
Hazards
The publication contains no hazards
Support for non-visual reading
Has alternative text descriptions for images
Navigation
- Page list to go to pages from the print source version
- Elements such as headings, tables, etc for structured navigation
- All or substantially all textual matter is arranged in a single logical reading order
Table of Contents
Introduction
Myth 1. The Great Depression Was Caused by Immorality in the 1920s
Myth 2. The 1920s Economic Boom Was Illusory and Brought on the Depression
Myth 3. The Stock Market Crash Caused the Great Depression
Myth 4. Herbert Hoover Was a “Do-Nothing” President
Myth 5. The New Deal Was an Organized Whole, Planned Before Roosevelt Came to the White House
Myth 6. The New Deal Was Responsible for Economic Recovery in the Period 1933–1937
Myth 7. The New Deal Was Socialist
Myth 8. The New Deal Was a Uniquely American Response to the Depression
Myth 9. The New Deal Was Keynesian
Myth 10. The Recession of 1937–38 Was the Result of FDR Pulling Back from the New Deal
Myth 11. World War II Brought an End to the Depression
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Product details
| Published | 04 Mar 2027 |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook (PDF) |
| Edition | 1st |
| Pages | 256 |
| ISBN | 9781440881374 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Series | Historical Facts and Fictions |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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