A Republican Decade1919-1929

1920 Presidential Election

Warren G. Harding promises Americans “A return to normalcy” and economic growth.

The Bolshevik Revolution– Czar Nicholas

II is forced to abdicate because of WWI.

– Alexander Kerensky leads the new government, and supports WWI and is very unpopular

– Vladimir I. Lenin promises “peace, land and bread”

– His movement becomes very strong, and overthrows the government, seizes all property (some belonging to Americans)

– Civil war breaks out between the Bolsheviks (Reds) and the Republicans (Whites). The U.S. supports the Whites.

– Reds win, withdraw from WWI.

o Lenin Advocates the worldwide spread of Communism.

The Red Scare

– Americans were nervous about the Commies

– Led to a sudden, intense fear of Communism, Radical Ideas, and Foreigners. This fear was collectively known as “The Red Scare”…

– Schneck vs. U.S.- “Clear and Present Danger”

– Gitlow vs. New York – Upheld the convictions of anarchists

– Palmer Raids – Govt. actively pursued perceived anarchists

– Sacco and Vanzetti – Two Italian anarchists were charged, convicted, and executed for a crime they didn’t commit because they were radical foreigners.

• Most Americans felt they were framed.

Strikes and the Red Scare

• 1920 – 350 strikes a month all over the U.S., and people blamed immigrants, communists, and radicals.

• Boston Police Strike – goes on strike for higher wages. Future President Calvin Coolidge calls in the state police to break the strike.

Coal and Steel Strike – government calls in the police to break the strike and “scabs” to replace the workers

Both of these government stances are very anti-labor.

Republican Leadership

• Very Pro-Business• Public felt the

Republicans’ would be better suited to handle the Commies and the Economy

• Scaled back the military

• Returned the US to an Isolationist policy.

• High tariffs to protect American Manufacturers.

Domestic Issues

Patriotism Religion

(Nativism) Urban Conditions Jobs Red Scare

Immigration Quotas

Scales back immigration to pre-1890 levels (this is done to eliminate Southern, Eastern and Central Europeans)

Republican Scandals

• Many Scandals rocked the Harding administration• Harding was most likely not involved• Biggest scandal was the “Teapot Dome Scandal” – Money

for Oil

• May have contributed to his early death (or he may have been murdered…)

Calvin Coolidge

• “The chief business of the American people is business”

• “Laissez Faire”- “let happen”, “let do”