Unit 7 Chapter 21 The Twenties (1920—1929)

Chapter 21: Politics of the Roaring Twenties Overview Americans lash out at those who are different while they enjoy prosperity and new conveniences produced by American businesses. During the 1920s, rural America clashes with a faster-paced urban culture. Women’s attitudes and roles change, influenced in part by the mass media. Many African Americans join in the new urban culture.

Section 1 – Americans Struggle with Postwar Issues Main Idea: The Russian Revolution brings a Communist government to power in the new Soviet Union. Many Americans fear that a similar revolution will occur in the United States. Political radicals and labor leaders meet with increasing opposition.

The Red Scare Communism – An economic and political system based on one-party rule and society consisting of complete equality Communist theories were based on the works of Karl Marx (a 19th century German philosopher) in his Communist Manifesto (1848). Americans feared Communism because it opposed capitalism and individual freedom guaranteed by the Constitution. Karl Marx

The Red Scare “Red Scare” – The fear that the spread of communism would arrive in the United States. Palmer Raids – Attempt by the Attorney general of the United States to hunt down suspected communists, socialists, radicals, and foreign-born immigrants and arrest or deport (1919 – 1920). Mitchell Palmer

Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Vanzetti The Red Scare Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Vanzetti – Two Italian-born Americans arrested for a suspected murder. Both were accused of being anarchists (people who oppose any form of government). Their trial brought international attention when they were found guilty and executed. Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Vanzetti

Protesting Immigration in The Red Scare Quota System – Created from the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 which established a maximum number of immigrants allowed from foreign nations. Congress passed the National Origins Act in 1924 to limit immigration from southern and eastern Europe. Protesting Immigration in the early 1920s

The Harding Presidency Main Idea: The Harding Administration appealed to America’s desire for calm and peace after the war and a “Return to Normalcy.” Scandal will plague the Harding Administration.

Warren G. Harding 29th President 1921 – 1923 Party: Republican Home State: Ohio Vice President: Calvin Coolidge

Warren G. Harding Foreign Supported European Reconstruction. Domestic Conservative Republican. Former Ohio Senator. Wanted a “Return to Normalcy” after the First World War. Had a Corrupt Cabinet known as the “Ohio Gang.” “Teapot Dome Scandal” was an infamous scandal during his presidency. Harding’s Secretary of the Interior gave drilling rights on govt. land to 2 private oil companies in return for illegal payments. Died in office (August 2, 1923) of a stroke. Foreign Supported European Reconstruction.

Harding Administration Isolationism – A policy of pulling away from involvement in world affairs. Pro-business Policies – Harding and his Cabinet pushed for laissez-faire policies favoring business over labor and low taxes.

Harding Administration Teapot-Dome Scandal – Secretary Fall secretly gave away oil fields to friends of his in the oil industry. Teapot Dome, WY was the site of the largest oil field. Albert B. Fall – He became the first American found guilty of a felony while holding a Cabinet post. Political Cartoon— “ Teapot Dome Scandal” Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall

Calvin Coolidge 30th President 1923 – 1929 Party: Republican Home State: Massachusetts Vice President: Charles G. Dawes

Calvin Coolidge Foreign Domestic Became president after the death of Warren G. Harding Wanted to bring respect back to the office of the presidency Conservative Republican Believed in limited government and low taxes Foreign Supported the Dawes Plan of 1924 to help Germany with its reparation payments to former Allies of WWI President who signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 to limit the potential of warfare

Coolidge Administration Dawes Plan of 1924– Arranged to send low-interest loans to Germany to help pay back reparations. The loans would then be used to pay back German debt to Britain and France. Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 – An agreement between the United States and France (and 60 other nations) to outlaw war as an instrument of national foreign policy.

Coolidge Administration Both Harding and Coolidge refused to use legislation to make social changes. Unlike the Progressives, Harding and Coolidge supported economic policies which favored big business. Harding and Coolidge maintained an isolationist foreign policy keeping the United States out of world affairs.

The Rise of Consumerism in the 1920s Main Idea: Consumer goods fueled the business boom of the 1920s as America’s standard of living soared.

1920s Consumerism Henry Ford – Pioneer in the automobile industry who wanted to make cars affordable to ordinary people. . Used the assembly line (efficient way of using workers to assemble finished goods) to make cars cheap and reliable. Ford’s Model-T was his first mass- produced automobile. Henry Ford

1920s Consumerism Impact of the Automobile – A paved American road system. Liberated the rural family who could now travel to the city. More independence for everyone through increased mobility. Created urban sprawl outside of cities. Used as a status symbol among classes. Invention of the Model T made it possible for more Americans to afford an automobile.

1920s Consumerism Charles Lindbergh – First to cross the Atlantic in 1927 from New York to Paris. Airplane Industry – Began as a mail carriers for the United States Post Office, but airlines began to carry passengers in the 1920s. Pan American Airlines created the first transatlantic flights in 1927.

1920s Consumerism Buying Goods on Credit – In addition to advertising the idea of buying goods on credit lured Americans into buying more than they made. Installment Plan – A credit plan which allowed people to buy goods on credit with little down. Decade of Spending – Credit and installment plans encouraged people to spend money they didn’t have, but fueled growth of the consumer economy. Most Americans began to only worry about the present without any concern for the future— The decade of an easy life and enjoyment was heading for a paradox.

1920s Consumerism 1920s was known as a decade of economic prosperity and, a growing popular culture, and widespread consumerism. The booming economy of the 1920s changed life in the following ways. . . The workweek shortened to forty hours allowing for more leisure time. Consumers used new credit instruments to buy new machines and stocks. Many prosperous Americans relied on cars for transportation and moved to the suburbs where they could enjoy more space.