April 09

On April 9, 1909, the United States Congress passed the Payne–Aldrich Tariff Act to revise federal tariff rates. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Sereno E. Payne and Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, aimed to reduce certain barriers but ultimately kept some high duties in place. President William Howard Taft signed the act amid heated political debate between protectionists and free-traders. Critics argued that it failed to deliver the promised rate cuts and favored industrial interests. The controversy weakened Taft's support within his own Republican Party and contributed to the 1912 split. Despite its shortcomings, the act shaped early 20th-century American trade policy. It underscored the tensions between business lobbyists and consumer advocates over economic regulation.

On April 9, 1952, the Bolivian National Revolution led by the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR) successfully overthrew the government of President Hugo Ballivián. The new MNR-led regime, headed by Víctor Paz Estenssoro, launched sweeping agrarian reforms, redistributing land from large estates to rural peasants. Universal suffrage was established, extending voting rights to indigenous populations and women for the first time. The government also nationalized the country's lucrative tin mines, shifting control from foreign companies and elite landowners to the state. These measures aimed to reduce social inequalities and modernize Bolivia's economy. The revolution transformed Bolivian society and politics, laying the foundation for future social and economic development. This landmark event remains a significant milestone in Latin American history.