The correct answer and explanation is:
Of course. Based on the categories provided in the image, here is the correct placement for the two visible items and a detailed explanation.
Correct Answer
- The box “tariffs on all imported…” should be placed in the Political Causes and Effects column.
- The box “overseas trade hit the high tariffs” should be placed in the Economic Causes and Effects column.
Explanation
This exercise demonstrates the deeply interconnected nature of political decisions and their economic consequences during the Great Depression. The key to correctly sorting these items is to identify the primary focus of each statement.
The statement “tariffs on all imported…” belongs in the Political Causes and Effects category because the creation of a tariff is a fundamentally political act. A tariff is a tax on imported goods, and it is established through legislation passed by a government. In the context of the Great Depression, this refers specifically to policies like the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act of 1930. The U.S. Congress passed this law with the stated political goal of protecting American farmers and businesses from foreign competition. The decision to implement such a policy, the debates surrounding it, and the act of passing the law are all functions of the political system.
Conversely, the statement “overseas trade hit the high tariffs” describes the direct result of that political policy, making it an Economic Cause and Effect. The focus here is not on the law itself but on its impact on commerce, markets, and the flow of goods. When the United States enacted high tariffs, other nations retaliated with their own tariffs on American products. This led to a “trade war,” causing a dramatic collapse in international trade. Global exports and imports plummeted, which deepened the worldwide economic crisis. This decline in trade is a core economic phenomenon, directly affecting businesses, employment, and the overall financial health of the nation.
In short, the government’s action (creating the tariff) is political, while the resulting breakdown of international trade is economic
