Why is it stated that the great depression was the result of the snowball effect of economic weaknesses?

Well the great depression was a very hard time for America. In the 1930s, American capitalism practically stopped working. and after that everything kinda fell down form there sadlyFor more than a decade, from 1929 to 1940, America's free-market economy failed to operate at a level that allowed most Americans to attain economic success!!! Those of us lucky enough not to have lived through the ordeal of the Great Depression may have a difficult time imagining the unprecedented depths of economic collapse and social disarray that mired America in the 1930s. But ya...lol 

I hope that helps!!! :)