Calvin Coolidge

I. Domestic A. Political

1. Coolidge became Pres in ‘23 He fired the people involved in the scandals of Harding’s administration a. He fired the people involved in the scandals of Harding’s administration, earning a reputation for being honest, direct, and hardworking. b. He continued the pro-business attitude. c. The tight-lipped president surprised many by becoming a popular figure - the public valued prosperity more than a dashing chief executive.

2. Election of 1924 a. Calvin Coolidge: Republican b. John W. Davis: Democrat i. Democrats become split over Prohibition ii. Rural areas favored Prohibition/ Cities opposed c. Robert LaFollete- Progressive i. Backed by farmers and workers ii. Attacked pro-business policies d. Big victory for “Silent Cal”!

e. The Election of 1924: The first radio election – LED TO MASS CULTURE Grace and Calvin Coolidge

3. Immigration Act of 1924 the # or % of persons/things allowed to do something a. Definition of quota: the # or % of persons/things allowed to do something (in this case, immigrate to a country)

b. Cut the immigration quota in two ways i. Reduced number of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe from 3% to 2% of # foreign residents in the US in ,000 immigrants annually and excluded Japanese altogether. ii. Placed a ceiling of 150,000 immigrants annually and excluded Japanese altogether.

After Immigration Quota Act:

B. Economic

1. Business “The Business of America is Business!” –- C.C. a. Wages rose; prosperity led to material comforts. b. The growth of business i. Formula for wealth: mass production + standardized products + a nation-wide market ii. America used to hate big business- but now relied on it to supply cheap products and create new opportunities for wealth

2. The Plight of Agriculture Farmers were the only group that did not prosper in the 1920s. a. Farmers were the only group that did not prosper in the 1920s. b. Falling prices and shrinking markets i. Technological advances led to greater production, reducing prices. ii. The end of WWI brought an end to foreign markets.

. The influence of the Farm Bloc- c. The influence of the Farm Bloc- i. Members of Congress from both parties passed laws that favored farmers McNary-Haugen Bill- aa. McNary-Haugen Bill- provided for gov’t provided for gov’t purchase of surplus crops purchase of surplus crops to be sold abroad. to be sold abroad. bb. The only problem it did not solve: surpluses did not sell. cc. Vetoed by C.C. cc. Vetoed by C.C.

3. Tax Reduction a. Congress continued lowering some taxes. i. Sharply reduced income and inheritance taxes and abolished the gift tax and excise taxes from WWI. ii. Freed people to invest! ii. Freed people to invest! (this will be one of the factors that leads to speculation and eventually the Great Depression)

Veterans Bonus of Veterans Bonus of 1924 a. Passed over Coolidge’s veto b. Awarded WWI veterans extra pay for their service, redeemable in 1945 c. The amount was to be determined by length of service and where they served.

II. Foreign

A. Republican presidents worked to promote world peace - Coolidge petitioned Congress for isolationism Kellogg-Briand Pact: 64 nations agreed to abandon war by settling disputes by peaceful means B. Kellogg-Briand Pact: 64 nations agreed to abandon war by settling disputes by peaceful means 1. No means of enforcement!

exert much influence over Latin America C. America continued to exert much influence over Latin America 1. Controlled the Panama Canal 2. U.S. troops trained and maintained a pro-American National Guard in the Dominican Republic and occupied Nicaragua and Haiti with a peacekeeping force of U.S. soldiers throughout the decade.

Not much Foreign policy Remember: we went back to ISOLATIONISM??? “Back to Normalcy”

III. Random Facts A. Coolidge was a highly visible leader, holding press conferences and speaking on the radio - He even posed for portraits dressed in farmer overalls, cowboy hats and chaps, and full Indian headdresses.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: (a) Why did the U.S. return to an isolationist foreign policy after The Great War? (b) How was that mindset evident through the policies we have discussed in Harding and Coolidge's presidencies? (Think: what new laws or presidential policies were created to keep the U.S. focused on itself and out of the affairs of other countries?)