What was the Great Depression?

What does this answer mean?

The Great Depression was the longest economic recession in modern history. That's the answer USCIS accepts.

A recession is a period when the economy shrinks: businesses close, people lose jobs, and money is scarce. The Great Depression was the most severe in modern American history. It began with the stock market crash of 1929, which set off a chain of events, including bank failures and tighter credit, that turned a downturn into a long depression. At its worst, in 1933, about one in four American workers had no job.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933 and promised "a New Deal" for Americans. His administration created new programs and agencies to provide jobs, relief, and reform. Even so, full recovery didn't come during the 1930s. The Depression lasted until about 1941, when the country's preparation for World War II created defense jobs.

The next two questions on the test ask when the Depression started and who was president during it.

At the interview, say "the longest economic recession in modern history."