The Great Depression was the deepest and longest economic downturn in the history of the United States. The Great Depression began soon after the Stock Market Crash of October 1929, which sent millions of investors into a panic causing them to sell their investments. During the depression consumer spending and life quality declined. This caused steep drops in manufacturing and rising levels of unemployment. In 1933, when the Great Depression reached its peak some 13 to 15 million Americans were unemployed and most financial institutions began to go bankrupt. Though the relief and reform measures put into place by President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped mitigate the worst effects of the Great Depression, they did not stop it entirely. The economy would not fully turn around until after 1939, when manufacturing needs increased from our allies during World War II, creating employment for more people.