The 1920s economy had several key weaknesses according to the document. Income was unequally distributed, with most Americans living below the poverty line, while the top 5% earned a third of the wealth. Farming faced problems of low incomes, many foreclosures, and overproduction driving down prices. Old industries like textiles and coal declined as newer industries like oil emerged. High tariffs hurt trade. The stock market was overly speculative due to a lack of regulation, and the banking system was unstable with many small bank failures during the 1920s leading up to the crash. International debt also weakened the economies of countries like Britain and France.