Smoot Hawley (Legislators)

The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, passed in 1930, was a U.S. law that raised import duties on hundreds of goods to protect American industries during the Great Depression. Named after senators Reed Smoot and Willis Hawley, it aimed to encourage domestic production by making foreign goods more expensive. However, the tariff led to retaliatory tariffs from other countries, significantly reducing international trade and worsening the economic downturn. Ultimately, it’s often cited as a cautionary example of how protectionist policies can have negative global consequences.