Key Individuals of the 1920s & 1930s

Henry Ford

Ford used the assembly line and interchangeable parts in the automobile industry to help produce the Model T, a car affordable for most Americans,

Wright Brothers

They were the first men to fly with their invention of the airplane; brought air travel to America

David Sarnoff

He helped to build the broadcast industry—“foresaw radio as a mass medium built around a network, then did it again for television”; led RCA and NBC and built them to broadcast giants.

Guglielmo Marconi

He was an Italian inventor, best known for his development of a practical radiotelegraph system” -- responsible for the development of the radio—wireless transmission.

John Scopes

accused of having violated the Butler Act while teaching in a high

school biology class. The act forbade the

teaching of the theory of evolution in public schools. Scopes trial

also called the “Monkey Trial.”

Clarence Darrow

Attorney in the 1925 Scopes trial in which he defended John T. Scopes,

Warren G. Harding

President from 1921 to 1923, when he became the sixth president to die in office. His administration was full of scandals including the Teapot Dome Scandal

Calvin Coolidge

Became president after Harding died. He said, “The least government was the best government.” Nickname “Silent Cal.” Famous quote: “The business of America is business.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt; became the ‘eyes and ears’ of FDR

during the Great Depression; encouraged him to allow women to

participate in his government.