The Great Depression compared with today

March 12 1933: Franklin Roosevelt prepares for his first 'fireside chat' in which he explains the measures he is taking to reform the nation's banking system

Archive: how the Manchester Guardian reported Roosevelt's proposed reforms Photograph: Corbis

September 24 2008: George Bush poses for photographers moments after speaking to the nation about the current financial crisis Photograph: Mark Wilson/Getty

Millions of Americans had put money into the stockmarket during the boom years, in the belief that shares would keep rising. Here crowds are shown gathered outside the Sub Treasury Building (now Federal Hall National Memorial) next to the statue of George Washington, which faces the New York Stock Exchange Photograph: Keystone/Getty

September 30 2008: The presence of news media attract onlookers in front of Federal Hall, during coverage of nearby New York Stock Exchange Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP

Fearing the worst, some of Wall Street’s top bankers tried to prevent a rout by investing heavily in the biggest companies. Richard Whitney, vice-president of the New York Stock Exchange, walked on to the floor of the exchange and bought 10,000 shares in US Steel at well above the current price The move appeared to work, with the Dow Jones index closing just 2% down. Photograph: AP

September 30 2008: Traders work on the New York Stock Exchange floor Photograph: Richard Drew/AP

The Crash was a major cause of the Great Depression of the 1930s. Historians blame America’s central bankers for not doing more to protect smaller lenders. Thousands went bankrupt, which led to credit drying up for years and had a devastating effect on large companies, small firms and families Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

April 29 2008: A man eats a free lunch at the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen in New York City. The kitchen currently serves 1,100 meals each weekday, the most it has ever served, as rising food prices and a slowing economy are affecting citizens nationwide Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty