Americans Struggle with Postwar Issues “Normalcy” & Isolationism The Business of America The 1920s Politics of the Roaring Twenties

“Normalcy” & Isolationism What was the “return to normalcy”? Isolationism “A national policy of abstaining from political or economic relations with other countries.”

Presidents of the 1920s Warren G. HardingCalvin Coolidge

“America's present need is not heroics but healing; not nostrums but normalcy; not revolution but restoration.” President Warren G. Harding

Election of 1920 RepublicansDemocrats Harding & Coolidge Cox & Roosevelt

Election of 1920

First election where women could vote First election to be covered via the radio

President Harding Four Major Events Under President Harding 1.Kellogg-Briand Pact 2.Fordney-McCumber Tariff 3.Quota System 4.Teapot Dome Scandal

Washington Naval Conference major naval powers and 4 smaller ones (with interests in Asia Excluded Russia Sec. of War Charles Evans Hughes: o 10 year holiday from building new ships o US-JP-IT-FR-GB should scarp some existing naval power!!! o 1 st time in history such powerful nations agreed to disarm!!!

Kellog-Briand Pact

Kellog-Briand Pact Nations agree to announce War as an instrument of national policy. NO WAY TON ENFORCE!!!

Fordney-McCumber Tariff 1922

Fordney- McCumber Tariff Highest tariff ever on foreign made goods – 60%!!! GB and FR unable to see goods  demanded payment of reparations from GR (who was broke) Dawes Plan!!!

1920’s Immigration-Quota System In response to post-WWI issues… U.S. placed Quotas on immigrants from certain areas (eastern and southern Europe)

Scandals rock Harding’s presidency

President Harding’s Death

President Coolidge’s Oath ‘MURICA

President Coolidge’s Oath “The man who builds a factory builds a temple, that the man who works there worships there, and to each is due, not scorn and blame, but reverence and praise.” – Calvin Coolidge

DO NOW DISCUSSION SUPERFICIAL PROSPERITY WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS MEANS?

1920’s Economic Boom “The business of America is business” - President Calvin Coolidge Supported non-government regulation of business

The AUTOMOBILE changed the American landscape….

"Americans can have any kind of car they want, and any color they want, as long as it's a Ford, and as long as it's black."

New roads were built. New businesses sprang up like gas stations, repair shops, public garages, motels, tourist camps & shopping centers.

The car # of paved roads New styles of homes (car ports and garages) Gas stations, repair shops, motels, garages, shopping centers 1927: the Holland Tunnel… NJ to NY Woodbridge Cloverleaf in 1928

Impact of the car Cost -- The price of automobiles declined steadily until the mid-1920s so that many well-paid working families could now afford to purchase a car. The Model T Ford, for example, cost just $290 in Credit -- In 1925, Americans made 75% of all automobile purchases on the installment plan.

The Car “I’ll go without food before I’ll give up use of the car” End of 1920’s, 80% of cars were owned by Americans

Cities in Ohio & Michigan grew as major centers of automobile manufacturing.

States that produced OIL such as California & Texas also prospered.

The automobile also became a status symbol. Everyone wanted to have one. By the late 1920’s, about 80% of all the cars in the world were in the U.S ROLLS-ROYCE

URBAN SPRAWL (Cities spread out in all directions) Cars ended isolation of rural families & gave young people & women more independence. Cars also made it possible for people to live farther from their jobs.

The airline industry also grew. Planes carried the nation’s mail. Passenger service began.

AMERICA’S STANDARD OF LIVING SOARS!!! How did the American household change?

Spread of ELECTRICITY caused a major change. In the 1920’s, electric power stretched beyond big cities to the suburbs.

Americans began to use all kinds of electrical appliances…. Radios, washing machines, & vacuum cleaners became popular. These appliances made housework easier.

Resulted in more leisure time for families and….

Increase in the number of women working outside the home. Nursing in the 1920’s

More consumer goods appeared on the market. Businesses used advertising to sell goods. They used Psychology…tried to use people’s desire for youth, beauty, & popularity to sell products.

Business people formed organizations to do charity work. They also formed organizations to promote business.

The National income rose from $64 billion in 1921 to $87 billion in Most businesses seemed to make fortunes. The stock market reached new heights.

THE SUPERFICIAL PROSPERITY OF THE 1920’s What hidden problems did the economy have?

1) Business wasn’t as healthy as it seemed: Large businesses bought up or merged w/smaller ones. But as businesses grew, business managers made much more $ than workers did. Also, mining companies, railroads, & farms weren’t doing well.

2) Consumer debt rose to high levels : Businesses encouraged customers to buy on the INSTALLMENT PLAN. Banks provided $ at low interest rates. Average Americans were spending more $ than they actually had.

To sum it all up… What economic issues do you predict for the U.S. in late 1920’s?