The Sherman Silver Purchase Act was enacted in July 14, 1890 as a United States Law. It was named after Senator John Sherman. It did not authorize the free and unlimited coinage of Silver that the Free Silver supporters wanted, but it increased the amount of silver the government was required to purchase every month. The Act was passed because of complaints from farmers and mining interests. Farmers had debts that could not be paid due to deflation and they wanted the government to pass the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in order to boost the economy. Mining companies had gained a lot of silver from western mines. The oversupply drove down the price of their product to below the point where it was profitable to mine it. They hoped to enlist the government to artificially increase demand for and the price of silver.