It was such protectionism that led to the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1929--30, the precipitator of the Great Depression.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Their inadequate holdings of cash was more a trigger or precipitator of their woes, rather than their most basic flaw.

BBC: Banks agree minimum liquidity rules

The immediate precipitator of this deadly squeeze is the Federal Reserve.

FORBES: Fact and Comment