Major Events of October 1929: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from October 1929 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of October 1929: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Oct 1929 Uneventful Day in Global History: October 1, 1929, was a relatively quiet day in world history, with no major documented events recorded. This period was just weeks before the infamous Wall Street Crash of October 24, 1929, which would dramatically alter the global economic landscape. While no specific significant events were noted, the day represents a moment of calm before the impending economic turbulence of the Great Depression.
- 03 Oct 1929 Gandhi's Visit to Azamgarh: Mahatma Gandhi visited Azamgarh and addressed a massive gathering of approximately 75,000 people at Srikrishna Pathsala High School, continuing his grassroots political and social activism.
- 04 Oct 1929 First British Prime Minister Visits United States: Ramsay MacDonald made history by becoming the first sitting British Prime Minister to visit the United States. He arrived in New York City and traveled by train to Washington, D.C., where he had a brief 20-minute introductory meeting with President Herbert Hoover, marking a significant diplomatic milestone.
- 05 Oct 1929 Hoover-MacDonald Disarmament Discussions at Rapidan Camp: United States President Herbert Hoover and British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald convened a critical diplomatic meeting at Rapidan Camp in Virginia to discuss potential international disarmament strategies. This high-level summit represented an important diplomatic effort to reduce military tensions in the post-World War I era, reflecting the international community's desire to prevent future global conflicts.
- 06 Oct 1929 State Funeral for Gustav Stresemann: Gustav Stresemann, a prominent German statesman and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was honored with a state funeral on October 6, 1929. Stresemann was a key political figure in the Weimar Republic, known for his efforts to reconcile Germany with European powers after World War I and for his diplomatic work in stabilizing Germany's international relations.
- 07 Oct 1929 First British Prime Minister Addresses U.S. Congress: Ramsay MacDonald made history as the first British Prime Minister to deliver an address to the United States Congress, marking a significant diplomatic milestone in Anglo-American relations during the interwar period. This event symbolized the growing political and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
- 08 Oct 1929 Mohammed Nadir Khan Seizes Power in Afghanistan: On October 8, 1929, Mohammed Nadir Khan successfully captured Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, and overthrew King Amanullah Khan's brother, Habibullah Ghazi. This pivotal moment marked a significant political transition in Afghan history, with Nadir Khan establishing himself as the new ruler and bringing stability to a period of intense political turbulence.
- 09 Oct 1929 Pre-Stock Market Crash Day: Just days before the infamous Black Thursday stock market crash of October 24, 1929, this date represents a calm period in financial markets before the onset of the Great Depression. While no singular dramatic event is recorded, the global economic landscape was poised on the brink of a significant transformation that would reshape economic policies and societal structures worldwide.
- 11 Oct 1929 J.C. Penney Expands to Nationwide Retail Presence: On October 11, 1929, J.C. Penney opened its 1,252nd retail store in Milford, Delaware, marking a significant milestone in the company's expansion. This achievement represented a remarkable feat of retail distribution, as the company now had stores in all 48 states of the United States at that time. The expansion demonstrated J.C. Penney's aggressive growth strategy and its ability to establish a comprehensive national retail network during the late 1920s, just before the onset of the Great Depression.
- 13 Oct 1929 RMS Empress of Canada Maritime Incident: On October 13, 1929, the ocean liner RMS Empress of Canada encountered a treacherous maritime situation when it ran aground off the rugged coastline of Vancouver Island during dense fog conditions. Thanks to skilled maritime rescue operations, all 96 passengers were successfully and safely transferred to another vessel without loss of life, demonstrating the professionalism of maritime crews during early 20th-century navigation challenges.
- 14 Oct 1929 Philadelphia Athletics Win World Series: In a decisive performance, the Philadelphia Athletics defeated the Chicago Cubs in the 26th World Series, winning the championship four games to one. During the series, the Athletics set a remarkable World Series record by scoring ten runs in a single inning, demonstrating their offensive prowess and dominance in the baseball championship.
- 18 Oct 1929 Edwards v. Canada: Women Declared 'Persons' Under Law: The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council made a landmark ruling that overturned the Supreme Court of Canada's previous decision, declaring that women are legally considered 'Persons' with full rights and privileges under Canadian law. This pivotal moment in Canadian legal history significantly advanced women's rights and gender equality.
- 19 Oct 1929 Stock Market Prelude to the Great Depression: While no specific event was initially documented for this date, October 19, 1929, falls just days before the infamous stock market crash of October 24-29, 1929, which marked the beginning of the Great Depression. The financial markets were experiencing significant volatility and uncertainty during this period, with growing investor anxiety about the sustainability of the economic boom of the 1920s.
- 20 Oct 1929 Bayshore Highway Opens in California: The Bayshore Highway, a significant transportation infrastructure project, was inaugurated on October 20, 1929. This highway would play a crucial role in connecting communities and facilitating transportation along the California coast, marking an important moment in the state's transportation development.
- 21 Oct 1929 Stock Market Panic Precedes Black Tuesday: In the week leading up to Black Tuesday, the New York Stock Exchange experienced unprecedented panic selling, marking the beginning of the catastrophic stock market crash of 1929. Investors, gripped by fear and uncertainty, rapidly liquidated their stock holdings, creating a cascading effect of market instability that would ultimately trigger the Great Depression.
- 22 Oct 1929 Fall of Aristide Briand's Government in France: On October 22, 1929, the French government led by Prime Minister Aristide Briand collapsed, marking a significant political transition in the Third French Republic. Briand, a prominent statesman known for his diplomatic efforts towards European reconciliation, lost parliamentary support, leading to the dissolution of his cabinet.
- 23 Oct 1929 Stock Market Panic Signals Great Depression's Onset: On October 23, 1929, the New York Stock Exchange began exhibiting signs of severe market panic, following a steady decline in stock prices since September. This day marked a critical moment in economic history, signaling the imminent collapse of the stock market and the beginning of the Great Depression, one of the most significant economic downturns in modern history.
- 24 Oct 1929 Wall Street Crash of 1929: On October 29, 1929, the stock market experienced catastrophic losses, wiping out more than $30 billion from the New York Stock Exchange - a sum equivalent to 10 times the annual federal government budget. This event marked a pivotal moment in economic history, triggering the Great Depression.
- 25 Oct 1929 Albert B. Fall Convicted in Teapot Dome Scandal: Former U.S. Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall was convicted of accepting bribes related to the infamous Teapot Dome oil lease scandal, marking a significant moment in American political corruption history. Fall became the first Presidential cabinet member to be sentenced to prison for actions committed while in office, highlighting the serious consequences of political misconduct.
- 26 Oct 1929 Stock Market Prelude to the Great Depression: While no specific event is directly documented for October 26, 1929, this date falls within the critical period leading up to the stock market crash known as 'Black Thursday' (October 24) and 'Black Tuesday' (October 29), which marked the beginning of the Great Depression. The financial markets were experiencing extreme volatility and investor panic during this week, with significant stock value losses and economic uncertainty.
- 27 Oct 1929 Stock Market Volatility Before the Great Crash: October 27, 1929, occurred during a critical period in financial history, just days before the infamous stock market crash known as Black Tuesday. While no specific event is directly documented for this exact date, the financial markets were experiencing extreme volatility and uncertainty during this week. The stock market was showing signs of significant stress, with investor confidence rapidly eroding and stock prices beginning to dramatically decline, setting the stage for the economic catastrophe that would unfold in the following days.
- 28 Oct 1929 Wall Street Stock Market Crash - Black Monday: The Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a dramatic plunge, dropping 38.33 points, representing a 13% decline to 260.64, marking a critical moment in the 1929 stock market crash.
- 29 Oct 1929 The New York Stock Exchange crashes in what will be called the Crash of '29 or ''Black Tuesday'', ending the Great Bull Market of the 1920s and beginning the Great Depression.
- 30 Oct 1929 Stock Market One-Day Recovery After Black Tuesday: Following the catastrophic stock market crash known as Black Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a brief, temporary recovery. On this day, the market rebounded by 12.34%, with the index climbing 28.40 points to close at 258.47. Despite this momentary uptick, this recovery would prove to be short-lived and did not prevent the onset of the Great Depression.
- 31 Oct 1929 Black Thursday Stock Market Aftermath: On October 31, 1929, the United States was in the immediate aftermath of the devastating stock market crash known as Black Thursday, which occurred on October 24th and continued through Black Tuesday on October 29th. While no specific singular event was recorded for this exact date, the financial markets were in severe turmoil, marking the beginning of the Great Depression. Investors were in shock, stock values had plummeted, and the economic landscape of the country was fundamentally changing.