Answer: The Hawley Smoot Tariff seriously backfired as furious European countries imposed a tax on American goods making them too expensive to buy in Europe, and restricting trade which contributed to the economic crisis of the Great Depression.
Explanation: The Hawley Smoot Tariff was signed into law on June 17, 1930, eight months after the 1929 Wall Street Crash and the start of the Great Depression.
The purpose of the Hawley Smoot Tariff was to raise tariffs on imports to protect American manufacturers from foreign competition. By raising tariffs to record levels the Hawley Smoot Tariff resulted in Americans buying few foreign products which infuriated countries in Europe.