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If you thought the 2000-2002 crash was painful, think again! It barely made the list of the ten worst markets crashes in U.S. history.

10. The 10th worst market crash barely edged out the 1932 stock market crash as the 10th worst crash in U.S. stock market history. Being the most recent crash, it is the easiest for us to remember.

This crash required the longest recovery time of all crashes in this list. The combination of the tech bubble bursting and the September 11th terrorist attack served a deadly blow to the stock market, but relative to markets past, this was a minor one.

10th Worst Stock Market Crash:

Date Started: 1/15/2000
Date Ended: 10/9/2002

Total Days: 999
Starting DJIA: 11,792.98
Ending DJIA: 7,286.27
Total Loss: -37.8%

9.If the 1930s sounded like a long time ago, well to find the 9th worst market crash, I had to go back to the WWI era.

As you will see, this market suffered about a 40% loss. It’s difficult to break even after a 40% loss. On a $1,000 investment, your portfolio went down to $600. To get back to $1,000, it would have to go up 66.7%!
9th Worst Stock Market Crash:

Date Started: 11/21/1916
Date Ended: 12/19/1917

Total Days: 393
Starting DJIA: 110.15
Ending DJIA: 65.95
Total Loss: -40.1%

8.1939 to 1942 Stock Market Crash:

Although this stock market crash only took the 8th spot, it was one of the most grueling. It took nearly 3 years to recover from this crash! With WWII and the attack on Pearl Harbor, the markets had a very tough time.
8th Worst Stock Market Crash:

Date Started: 9/12/1939
Date Ended: 4/28/1942

Total Days: 959
Starting DJIA: 155.92
Ending DJIA: 92.92
Total Loss: -40.4%

7.1973 – 1974 Stock Market Crash:

Another long market crash -one that many people still remember (think Vietnam and the Watergate scandal). This crash lasted for 694 days before bottoming out.
7th Worst Stock Market Crash:

Date Started: 1/11/1973
Date Ended: 12/06/1974

Total Days: 694
Starting DJIA: 1051.70
Ending DJIA: 577.60
Total Loss: -45.1%

6.1901 – 1903 Stock Market Crash:

This is the oldest crash to make the list (DJIA records are not available before 1900). To give you a perspective of what things were like during this time, take a look at these facts:

* Life expectancy in the U.S. was 47
* Only 14% of homes had a bathtub
* Maximum speed limit in most cities was 10mph
* Average wage was 22 cents and hour – avg salary/year was about $300
* More than 95% of all births took place at home
* Only 6% of the population had graduated from High School
* The #1 cause of death was Pneumonia and Influenza
* The American flag had 45 stars

6th Worst Stock Market Crash:

Date Started: 6/17/1901
Date Ended: 11/9/1903

Total Days: 875
Starting DJIA: 57.33
Ending DJIA: 30.88
Total Loss: -46.1%

5.1919 – 1921 Stock Market Crash:

This crash followed a post war boom (Stock prices rose 51%). After the crash bottomed out in August of 1921, this decade saw tremendous growth in the stock market and the economy (often called the roaring twenties).
The 5th worst stock market crash:

Date Started: 11/3/1919
Date Ended: 8/24/1921

Total Days: 660
Starting DJIA: 119.62
Ending DJIA: 63.9
Total Loss: -46.6%

4.The 4th worst stock market crash in U.S. History:

Although this is the shortest market crash observed, it was a deadly one. Investors saw almost half their money disappear in just two months. Often this crash is the worst in most people’s minds.

This crash kicked off what we now know as the “Great Depression.” You can read more about this crash by visiting my This crash kicked off what we now know as the “Great Depression.” To learn more about the crash, be sure to visit my 1929 crash resources.
4th Worst Stock Market Crash :

Date Started: 9/3/1929
Date Ended: 11/13/1929

Total Days: 71
Starting DJIA: 381.17
Ending DJIA: 198.69
Total Loss: -47.9%

3.1906 – 1907 Stock Market Crash:

This crash was called the “Panic of 1907.” The U.S. Treasury department bought 36 million dollars worth of government bonds to offset the decline (and remember, $36 million translates to a much bigger number in today’s dollars).
3rd Worst Stock Market Crash:

Date Started: 1/19/1906
Date Ended: 11/15/1907

Total Days: 665
Starting DJIA: 75.45
Ending DJIA: 38.83
Total Loss: -48.5%

2.1937 – 1938 Stock Market Crash:

Just when investors thought the market was finally good again, following a recovery of almost half of the great depression losses, the market plunged again due to war scare and Wall street scandals.
2nd Worst Stock Market Crash:

Date Started: 3/10/1937
Date Ended: 3/31/1938

Total Days: 386
Starting DJIA: 194.40
Ending DJIA: 98.95
Total Loss: -49.1%

1.1932 Stock Market Crash:

This is the grand daddy of them all. Investors lost 86% of their money over this 813 day beast. This market crash combined with the 1929 crash, makes up the great depression.

If you had $1000 on 9/3/1929 (beginning of the 4th worst crash, it would have gone down to a whopping $108.14 by July 8th, 1932 (end of the worst crash) or an 89.2% loss. To recover from a loss like that, you would have to watch your portfolio go up 825%! The full recovery didn’t take place until 1954, 22 years later!
Worst Stock Market Crash Ever:

Date Started: 4/17/1930
Date Ended: 7/8/1932

Total Days: 813
Starting DJIA: 294.07
Ending DJIA: 41.22
Total Loss: -86.0%

source: http://mutualfunds.about.com/cs/history/a/marketcrash.htm