Question

how did the smoot-hawley tariff act contribute to the great depression?
foreign countries refused to buy american goods due to its passage.
higher income taxes made it harder for families to buy goods.
fewer americans bought domestic goods due to increased cost.
successful american businesses forced foreign businesses to close.

Explanation:

The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act raised U.S. import tariffs to very high levels. In retaliation, foreign countries imposed their own high tariffs on American exports. This led to a collapse in international trade, as foreign nations stopped purchasing U.S. goods, worsening the economic downturn of the Great Depression. The other options are incorrect: the act did not involve income taxes, the direct domestic cost increase was not the primary contributing factor, and it did not cause successful U.S. businesses to force foreign ones to close.

Answer:

Foreign countries refused to buy American goods due to its passage.