1. 20.2 The Politics of Normalcy
The Roaring Twenties
20.2 The Politics of Normalcy

2. Election of 1920 Dem. James Cox & Franklin Roosevelt Progressives
Progressives
For League of Nations
For Labor & Govt. regulation
Rep. Warren Harding & Calvin Coolidge
Less Govt. Spending
Corporate tax cuts
Increased Tariffs
“Republican Formula”
A Return to Normalcy

3. Warren G. Harding Wins!

4. Republican Control in the 20s
Pro-Business / Anti-Labor
American Plan = Employers paid workers more and gave benefits to break unions
Return to Laissez-Faire Capitalism
Business boomed but not all benefited
Reduction of National Debt

5. President Harding 1921-23 Good Man, bad friends Corruption & Scandals
Teapot Dome Scandal
Died of Heart Attack in 1923

6. President Coolidge 1923-29 “Silent Cal” Popular but inactive
Won in 1924 due to 3 way split in Democratic Party.
“The business of America is business”

7. Business Prosperity Auto Industry was key!
Higher wages + New Consumer Goods!
Prosperity = Expansion of Education
Oil & Electric fuels revolutionize life
Auto Industry was key!
Henry Ford’s assembly line makes automobiles more affordable and accessible

9. Impact of the Automobile
26.5 million autos registered by 1930
Replaced railroad industry as key promoter of economic growth
All other industries depended on automobile sales.
Affected everything Americans do

10. Advertising & Credit
Ad-men learned to manipulate people into buying unnecessary products.
Ads focused on happiness, hygiene, and popularity
Many began buying on credit
This created a fragile economy