Final answer:
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff was influenced by political considerations and a need to protect American industries, leading to high tariffs on imported goods in 1930. While aiming to boost domestic production and jobs, it prompted reciprocal tariffs from other nations, causing a decline in international trade and intensifying the Great Depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff was significantly influenced by political considerations and a desire to protect American industries. This protectionist measure was enacted in 1930 to increase tariffs on imported goods to record highs and was intended to spur domestic production by limiting foreign imports. However, it resulted in reciprocal tariffs from other countries on US exports, which exacerbated the effects of the Great Depression and led to a substantial decline in international trade. While there was some support from workers in protected industries, many farmers and others involved in export were harmed by the retaliatory actions of foreign governments.
Key supporters of the tariff emphasized the potential for additional government revenue and the protection of domestic manufacturing jobs. However, the considerable opposition came from southern Democrats who were affected by European retaliatory tariffs on agricultural exports, highlighting the regional economic disparities within the United States. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff ultimately led to an international trade downturn and contributed to the worsening global economic conditions of the early 1930s.