You are about to take an economic journey through a time period called the Great Depression. Why is it valuable to study the Great Depression? The former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke once told a coworker, "If you want to understand geology, study earthquakes. If you want to understand economics, study the biggest calamity to hit the U.S. and world economies." Bernanke was referring to the Great Depression, the most severe economic recession in U.S. History. (To learn more about former Chairman Bernanke click here.) The Great Depression has become one of the most important periods in our history as a nation. It shaped our culture, our government and the economy in dramatic ways.