In response to the economic, social, and political challenges of the 1920s and 1930s, nations around the world adopted a range of measures to address the issues. Many countries, including the United States, implemented protectionist policies such as tariffs and quotas to protect their own industries against foreign competition. Other nations, such as Germany, adopted interventionist economic policies to try to combat high unemployment rates. On the social front, nations such as the United States began to introduce social welfare programs such as Social Security to provide assistance to those in need. Governments also took steps to address political issues, such as introducing new forms of democratic governance and attempting to restore international peace and stability.