The above weekly chart shows that the stock market does not go down in a straight smooth line but that the downward journey through a bear market is actually quite a bumpy ride.
The 1930-1931Bear Market
which started in October 1929 lasted for nearly three years and the Dow Industrial Average dropped a whopping 90% before bottoming out.
This bear market was the start of the economic woes that became known as the 1930s Great Depression which ultimately lead to World War II.