1920’s- Politics and Business Objective Questions 1) Explain why President Harding was an ineffective President by two examples of Presidential mismanagement. 2) Explain the importance of the Model T and how the automobile changed American lives and landscapes by providing 3 examples. 3) Evaluate if new consumer products available to Americans in the 1920’s are going to improve or hurt American lives by providing two examples of how their lives will change and the effect that change will have on individual Americans.
President Harding and a “Return to Normalcy” Government- President wanted little Gov. involvement in society and business (return to Laissez-Faire) President Harding- not smart, good natured, POOR judge of character (ranked one of the least effective Presidents ever) *Wanted America to “Return to Normalcy” (simple, worriless lives) -Kellog-Briand Pact- international agreement that outlawed war *What is the problem with such a well intentioned law? Isolationist- pulled America out of international affairs Evaluate if America should forget it’s international responsibilites after WWI?
-Scandals- members of Harding’s cabinet used their offices to get wealthy (and caught in many scandals) – Tea Pot Dome Scandal- Sec of Interior Albert Fall turned US Naval oil reserves over to 2 oil companies *Fall received $325,000 in cash and several cattle ranches in return (Fall was caught and spent a year in jail)
Business- 1920’s one of America’s most prosperous decades (Americans make $ and buy new stuff) What was the new problem that companies had to solve in the Twenties now that people had more money and more products to choose from? (think about the increase in the production of goods? – Overproduction (too many products, too many companies) How did business solve this new problem to convince people to buy their product? – Advertising- convincing people that happiness can only be achieved in buying the newest product (pointing out new problems they never knew existed)
Automobile- 1920’s cars became common Installment plans- loans to pay off car over months/years – Impact- Automobile industry becomes US largest business and customer (steel, windows, rubber, glass) *How were cities changed and what new jobs were created when cars became more popular in the 1920’s? Urban Sprawl- cities spread out in all directions, homes built with garages What city 20 th Century city is a good example of a city that spreads out in all directions as a result of the popularity of cars? New Business’ and jobs- auto workers, salesmen, gas stations, motels, road construction, (bank robbers?), car racing
Henry Ford and the Assembly Line created the Model T (first affordable car- $250) Assembly line- specific tasks for each worker (speeds up production and lower costs) In k Model Ts were built, in million
How did the automobile change the lives of ordinary Americans for the better? – Fresh foods (fruit), paved streets, transportation (live outside city, away from work), road trips (travel), women (mobility), school buses (higher attendance), What were the negative impacts of the automobile? – Death (more people died on roads by 1951 than all wars combined), sex (young people have a private place away from parents), crime (get away)
Airplane- new form a travel that gains popularity and acceptance in 20’s – Wright Brothers (1903) invented the Airplane Charles Lindbergh accomplished 1 st solo flight across the Atlantic ocean (33 hours) Lindbergh’s accomplishment change the world by – Created a new industry (Airplane- LA center, WHY?), hurt RR – Legitimized a new form of transportation that flight is safe and air travel is possible
Electricity- reaches suburbs and new conveniences for people (irons, refrigerators, ovens, toasters, radio) – How are these new inventions going to change peoples lives for the better? What will people have more of because of these new inventions?