What was the primary purpose of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff enacted in 1930?

The primary purpose of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff, enacted in 1930, was to protect American industries from foreign competition. This tariff represented one of the most significant increases in import duties in U.S. history and was designed to encourage domestic production by making imported goods more expensive. The hope was that by raising tariffs on a wide range of foreign products, American consumers would buy more domestically produced goods, thus bolstering American businesses during a time of economic downturn.

The context in which the Smoot-Hawley Tariff was enacted is critical to understanding its goals. In the late 1920s and into the 1930s, the United States was facing the onset of the Great Depression, with rising unemployment and economic contraction. Policymakers believed that imposing higher tariffs would protect American jobs and industries from cheaper foreign imports that were perceived as a threat to domestic economic stability.

While the intention was to safeguard American commerce, the tariff ultimately led to retaliatory measures by other countries, which further strained international trade relations and exacerbated the global economic crisis. Thus, the focus on protecting American industries became the central aim of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff, highlighting the complexities of economic policy during a period of significant