Legislation passed in 1930 that shifted the U.S. tariff to the highest level of protection seen during that time. The act sought to especially protect American businesses and farmers. Before the act was enacted, President Hoover was trying to raise the tariff rate on farm products as well as raise some industrial rates. Representative Willis C. Hawley and Senator Reed Smoot both campaigned for this legislation and as a result this piece of legislation was named after them.