Unit 7Unit 7Chapter 21Chapter 21

The TwentiesThe Twenties(1920—1929)(1920—1929)

Chapter 21:Chapter 21:Politics of the Roaring Politics of the Roaring TwentiesTwenties

OverviewOverview

Americans lash out at those who are different Americans lash out at those who are different

while they enjoy prosperity and new while they enjoy prosperity and new

conveniences produced by American conveniences produced by American

businesses. During the 1920s, rural America businesses. During the 1920s, rural America

clashes with a faster-paced urban culture. clashes with a faster-paced urban culture.

Women’s attitudes and roles change, Women’s attitudes and roles change,

influenced in part by the mass media. Many influenced in part by the mass media. Many

African Americans join in the new urban African Americans join in the new urban

culture.culture.

Section 1 – Section 1 – Americans Struggle with Americans Struggle with Postwar IssuesPostwar Issues

Main Idea:Main Idea:

The Russian Revolution brings a Communist The Russian Revolution brings a Communist

government to power in the new Soviet government to power in the new Soviet

Union. Union.

Many Americans fear that a similar revolution Many Americans fear that a similar revolution

will occur in the United States. Political will occur in the United States. Political

radicals and labor leaders meet with radicals and labor leaders meet with

increasing opposition.increasing opposition.

The Red ScareThe Red ScareCommunism –Communism –

An economic and political system An economic and political system

based on one-party rule and society based on one-party rule and society

consisting of complete equalityconsisting of complete equality

Communist theories were based on Communist theories were based on

the works of Karl Marx (a 19the works of Karl Marx (a 19thth

century German philosopher) in his century German philosopher) in his

Communist ManifestoCommunist Manifesto (1848). (1848).

Americans feared Communism Americans feared Communism

because it opposed capitalism and because it opposed capitalism and

individual freedom guaranteed by individual freedom guaranteed by

the Constitution.the Constitution.

Karl MarxKarl Marx

The Red ScareThe Red Scare

““Red Scare” –Red Scare” –

The fearThe fear that the spread of that the spread of

communism would arrive in the communism would arrive in the

United States.United States.

Palmer Raids –

Attempt by the Attorney general Attempt by the Attorney general

of the United States to hunt of the United States to hunt

down suspected communists, down suspected communists,

socialists, radicals, and foreign-socialists, radicals, and foreign-

born immigrants and arrest or born immigrants and arrest or

deport (1919 – 1920).deport (1919 – 1920).

Mitchell PalmerMitchell Palmer

Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo

Vanzetti –Vanzetti –

Two Italian-born Americans Two Italian-born Americans

arrested for a suspected arrested for a suspected

murder.murder.

Both were accused of being Both were accused of being

anarchistsanarchists (people who (people who

oppose any form of oppose any form of

government).government).

Their trial brought Their trial brought

international attention when international attention when

they were found guilty and they were found guilty and

executed. executed.

Nicola Sacco & Nicola Sacco & Bartolomeo VanzettiBartolomeo Vanzetti

The Red ScareThe Red Scare

Quota System –Quota System –

Created from the Emergency Created from the Emergency

Quota Act of 1921 which Quota Act of 1921 which

established a maximum established a maximum

number of immigrants number of immigrants

allowed from foreign nations.allowed from foreign nations.

Congress passed the Congress passed the

National Origins ActNational Origins Act in 1924 in 1924

to limit immigration from to limit immigration from

southern and eastern southern and eastern

Europe. Europe.

Protesting Immigration in the early 1920s

The Red ScareThe Red Scare

The Harding PresidencyThe Harding Presidency

Main Idea:Main Idea:

The Harding Administration The Harding Administration

appealed to America’s desire for appealed to America’s desire for

calm and peace after the war and calm and peace after the war and

a “Return to Normalcy.” Scandal a “Return to Normalcy.” Scandal

will plague the Harding will plague the Harding

Administration.Administration.

Warren G. HardingWarren G. Harding

2929thth President President

1921 – 19231921 – 1923

Party:Party: RepublicanRepublican

Home State:Home State:

OhioOhio

Vice President:Vice President: Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge

Warren G. HardingWarren G. Harding

Domestic Domestic Conservative Republican. Conservative Republican. Former Ohio Senator.Former Ohio Senator. Wanted a “Return to Wanted a “Return to

Normalcy” after the First Normalcy” after the First World War.World War.

Had a Corrupt Cabinet known Had a Corrupt Cabinet known as the “Ohio Gang.”as the “Ohio Gang.”

““Teapot Dome Scandal” was Teapot Dome Scandal” was an infamous scandal during an infamous scandal during his presidency. Harding’s his presidency. Harding’s Secretary of the Interior gave Secretary of the Interior gave drilling rights on govt. land drilling rights on govt. land to 2 private oil companies in to 2 private oil companies in return for illegal payments. return for illegal payments.

Died in office (August 2, Died in office (August 2, 1923) of a stroke.1923) of a stroke.

ForeignForeign Supported Supported

European European ReconstructioReconstruction.n.

Harding AdministrationHarding Administration

Isolationism –Isolationism –

A policy of pulling away from involvement in A policy of pulling away from involvement in

world affairs.world affairs.

Pro-business Policies –Pro-business Policies –

Harding and his Cabinet pushed for laissez-Harding and his Cabinet pushed for laissez-

faire policies favoring business over labor and faire policies favoring business over labor and

low taxes.low taxes.

Harding AdministrationHarding Administration

Teapot-Dome Scandal –Teapot-Dome Scandal – Secretary Fall secretly Secretary Fall secretly

gave away oil fields to gave away oil fields to friends of his in the oil friends of his in the oil industry.industry.

Teapot Dome, WY was Teapot Dome, WY was the site of the largest the site of the largest oil field.oil field.

Albert B. Fall –Albert B. Fall – He became the first He became the first

American found guilty American found guilty of a felony while of a felony while holding a Cabinet post.holding a Cabinet post.

Secretary of the InteriorSecretary of the InteriorAlbert FallAlbert Fall

Political Cartoon—Political Cartoon—“ “ Teapot Dome Teapot Dome

Scandal”Scandal”

Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge

3030thth President President

1923 – 19291923 – 1929

Party:Party: RepublicanRepublican

Home State:Home State:

MassachusettsMassachusetts

Vice President:Vice President: Charles G. DawesCharles G. Dawes

Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge

Domestic Domestic

Became president after the Became president after the

death of Warren G. Hardingdeath of Warren G. Harding

Wanted to bring respect Wanted to bring respect

back to the office of the back to the office of the

presidencypresidency

Conservative RepublicanConservative Republican

Believed in limited Believed in limited

government and low taxesgovernment and low taxes

ForeignForeign

Supported the Supported the

Dawes Plan of 1924 Dawes Plan of 1924

to help Germany to help Germany

with its reparation with its reparation

payments to former payments to former

Allies of WWIAllies of WWI

President who President who

signed the Kellogg-signed the Kellogg-

Briand Pact of 1928 Briand Pact of 1928

to limit the potential to limit the potential

of warfareof warfare

Coolidge AdministrationCoolidge Administration

Dawes Plan of 1924–Dawes Plan of 1924– Arranged to send low-interest Arranged to send low-interest

loans to Germany to help pay loans to Germany to help pay back reparations.back reparations.

The loans would then be used The loans would then be used to pay back German debt to to pay back German debt to Britain and France.Britain and France.

Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 –Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 – An agreement between the An agreement between the

United States and France (and United States and France (and 60 other nations) to outlaw war 60 other nations) to outlaw war as an instrument of national as an instrument of national foreign policy.foreign policy.

Coolidge AdministrationCoolidge Administration

Both Harding and Coolidge refused to use Both Harding and Coolidge refused to use

legislation to make social changes.legislation to make social changes.

Unlike the Progressives, Harding and Unlike the Progressives, Harding and

Coolidge supported economic policies Coolidge supported economic policies

which favored big business.which favored big business.

Harding and Coolidge maintained an Harding and Coolidge maintained an

isolationist foreign policy keeping the isolationist foreign policy keeping the

United States out of world affairs.United States out of world affairs.

The Rise of Consumerism in The Rise of Consumerism in the 1920sthe 1920s

Main Idea:Main Idea:

Consumer goods fueled the Consumer goods fueled the

business boom of the 1920s as business boom of the 1920s as

America’s standard of living America’s standard of living

soared.soared.

1920s Consumerism1920s Consumerism

Henry Ford –Henry Ford –

Pioneer in the automobile Pioneer in the automobile

industry who wanted to make industry who wanted to make

cars affordable to ordinary cars affordable to ordinary

people. .people. .

Used the Used the assembly lineassembly line

(efficient way of using workers (efficient way of using workers

to assemble finished goods) to to assemble finished goods) to

make cars cheap and reliable.make cars cheap and reliable.

Ford’s Model-T was his first Ford’s Model-T was his first

mass- produced automobile.mass- produced automobile.

Henry FordHenry Ford

1920s Consumerism1920s Consumerism

Impact of the Automobile –Impact of the Automobile –

A paved American road system.A paved American road system.

Liberated the rural family who could now Liberated the rural family who could now

travel to the city.travel to the city.

More independence for everyone through More independence for everyone through

increased mobility.increased mobility.

Created urban sprawl outside of cities.Created urban sprawl outside of cities.

Used as a status symbol among classes.Used as a status symbol among classes.

Invention of the Model T made it possible for Invention of the Model T made it possible for

more Americans to afford an automobile.more Americans to afford an automobile.

1920s Consumerism1920s Consumerism

Charles Lindbergh –Charles Lindbergh –

First to cross the Atlantic in First to cross the Atlantic in

1927 from New York to Paris.1927 from New York to Paris.

Airplane Industry –Airplane Industry –

Began as a mail carriers for Began as a mail carriers for

the United States Post Office, the United States Post Office,

but airlines began to carry but airlines began to carry

passengers in the 1920s.passengers in the 1920s.

Pan American Airlines created Pan American Airlines created

the first transatlantic flights in the first transatlantic flights in

1927.1927.

1920s Consumerism1920s Consumerism

Buying Goods on Credit –Buying Goods on Credit –

In addition to advertising the idea of buying goods on In addition to advertising the idea of buying goods on

credit lured Americans into buying more than they made.credit lured Americans into buying more than they made.

Installment Plan –Installment Plan –

A credit plan which allowed people to buy goods on A credit plan which allowed people to buy goods on

credit with little down.credit with little down.

Decade of Spending –Decade of Spending –

Credit and installment plans encouraged people to spend Credit and installment plans encouraged people to spend

money they didn’t have, but fueled growth of the money they didn’t have, but fueled growth of the

consumer economy. Most Americans began to only worry consumer economy. Most Americans began to only worry

about the present without any concern for the future— about the present without any concern for the future—

The decade of an easy life and enjoyment was heading The decade of an easy life and enjoyment was heading

for a paradox.for a paradox.

1920s Consumerism1920s Consumerism1920s was known as a decade of economic 1920s was known as a decade of economic

prosperity and, a growing popular culture, prosperity and, a growing popular culture,

and widespread consumerism. The booming and widespread consumerism. The booming

economy of the 1920s changed life in the economy of the 1920s changed life in the

following ways. . .following ways. . .

The workweek shortened to forty hours The workweek shortened to forty hours

allowing for more leisure time.allowing for more leisure time.

Consumers used new credit instruments Consumers used new credit instruments

to buy new machines and stocks.to buy new machines and stocks.

Many prosperous Americans relied on Many prosperous Americans relied on

cars for transportation and moved to the cars for transportation and moved to the

suburbs where they could enjoy more suburbs where they could enjoy more

space.space.