What major educational act did Hoke Smith lead the passage of in 1914?

Hoke Smith played a significant role in the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, which established a system of cooperative extension services focused on making education accessible to the public, particularly in rural areas. This act aimed to provide agricultural and home economics education through cooperative efforts between the federal government, states, and local communities. The Smith-Lever Act significantly improved agricultural practices and increased the knowledge of scientific farming techniques, reflecting the early 20th century’s emphasis on education as a means to promote economic and social development.

The other acts listed address different aspects of educational policy. The Smith-Hughes Act, for instance, was related to vocational education and aimed at improving training in public schools, but it was passed in 1917. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, enacted in 1965, sought to provide federal funding to improve education in primary and secondary schools, and the National Defense Education Act, which was passed in 1958, focused on enhancing education in science and mathematics in response to the Cold War. Thus, while all the acts mentioned are significant in the history of U.S. education, the Smith-Lever Act is the one specifically associated with Hoke Smith in 1914.