Before the Great Depression, England was experiencing a period of economic growth and prosperity known as the "Roaring Twenties." This period was characterized by a booming stock market, increased consumer spending, and a general sense of optimism and prosperity. However, the prosperity of the 1920s was not shared equally among all segments of society, and many working-class people continued to struggle with poverty and inequality. The Great Depression, which began in 1929, marked the end of this period of growth and prosperity and ushered in a period of economic hardship and uncertainty that lasted for much of the 1930s.