Presidential Leadership in the 1920’sPresidential Leadership in the 1920’s
President Warren G. HardingPresident Warren G. Harding– Harding wins landslide election Harding wins landslide election
promising a return to promising a return to “normal”“normal”Return to Return to isolationismisolationism
Pro-business policiesPro-business policies
Make economy grow and create Make economy grow and create jobsjobs
Americans were Americans were war wearywar weary & & wanted a return to pre-war dayswanted a return to pre-war days
How did Harding Disappoint the People?How did Harding Disappoint the People?
Political ScandalsPolitical Scandals– Harding’s political Harding’s political
appointees were appointees were corruptcorrupt– Cabinet secretary was Cabinet secretary was
bribed and secretly bribed and secretly leased land to oil leased land to oil companies at companies at Teapot Teapot Dome, WyomingDome, Wyoming
– First time a First time a cabinet cabinet secretarysecretary was sent to was sent to prisonprison
– Harding dies in office of Harding dies in office of a heart attack before a heart attack before scandals are connected scandals are connected directly to himdirectly to him
Calvin Coolidge Takes OfficeCalvin Coolidge Takes Office““Silent Cal” Silent Cal” – Sworn in after Sworn in after
Harding’s deathHarding’s death– Coolidge was Coolidge was
different from different from HardingHarding
Not a big speech Not a big speech maker or party maker or party throwerthrower
Coolidge repaired Coolidge repaired damage caused by damage caused by scandalsscandals
Coolidge ProsperityCoolidge Prosperity““The business of America is The business of America is
business. The man who business. The man who builds a factory builds a builds a factory builds a
temple. The man who works temple. The man who works there worships there”there worships there”
Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge
What was Coolidge’s priority What was Coolidge’s priority as president?as president?– Pro big businessPro big business– Business was the most important Business was the most important
part in creating the American part in creating the American way of lifeway of life
– Began a period of rapid Began a period of rapid economic growtheconomic growth
Coolidge ProsperityCoolidge Prosperity
Industry Industry BoomsBooms– Quantity of goods made by industry doubledQuantity of goods made by industry doubled– More jobs were made and incomes roseMore jobs were made and incomes rose– People spent money on new productsPeople spent money on new products
Refrigerators, radios, phonographs, vacuum Refrigerators, radios, phonographs, vacuum cleanerscleaners
– Installment buyingInstallment buying (credit) allowed people to (credit) allowed people to spend more money than they could affordspend more money than they could afford
– Overspending became a serious economic Overspending became a serious economic problemproblem
Coolidge ProsperityCoolidge Prosperity
A Soaring Stock MarketA Soaring Stock Market– More people invested in the stock market More people invested in the stock market
than ever before. than ever before. (Bull Market)(Bull Market)– Stocks were bought on Stocks were bought on marginmargin
For 10% down payment, buyers held stocks until For 10% down payment, buyers held stocks until the price rose and sold it for a profitthe price rose and sold it for a profit
Margin buying works as long as stock prices riseMargin buying works as long as stock prices rise
– Margin buying became a cause for Margin buying became a cause for The Great The Great DepressionDepression of the 1930’s of the 1930’s
Foreign AffairsForeign AffairsPresidents Harding and Coolidge kept the Presidents Harding and Coolidge kept the U.S. out of European affairs (Isolation)U.S. out of European affairs (Isolation)
US remained out of the League of NationsUS remained out of the League of Nations
The US The US intervenedintervened in Latin America when in Latin America when American business interests were American business interests were threatened threatened
US signed the Kellogg-Briand PactUS signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact– This treaty outlawed war, but had no means of This treaty outlawed war, but had no means of
keeping the peacekeeping the peace
ConclusionConclusionHow did presidential leadership How did presidential leadership influence US policy during the influence US policy during the 1920’s?1920’s?
–Presidential leadership: Presidential leadership: Created a strong economyCreated a strong economy
Created a bull marketCreated a bull market
Returned the nation to pre-WW1 isolationReturned the nation to pre-WW1 isolation
Increased jobs and family incomeIncreased jobs and family income
Created an era of peace & prosperityCreated an era of peace & prosperity
Social Changes/1920’sSocial Changes/1920’sA ban on alcoholA ban on alcohol– ProhibitionProhibition
New rights for womenNew rights for women– Women’sWomen’s suffrage suffrage
New inventions that bring social changeNew inventions that bring social change– AutomobileAutomobile– RadioRadio– Moving pictures (The movies)Moving pictures (The movies)
Repeal of Prohibition Repeal of Prohibition – Ban never stoppedBan never stopped use of alcohol, respect for the law use of alcohol, respect for the law
was undermined, amendment was repealedwas undermined, amendment was repealed
New Inventions/AutomobileNew Inventions/AutomobileEconomic EffectsEconomic Effects– Growth in jobs Growth in jobs (auto (auto
industry & related industry & related industries)industries)
Steel, rubber, and oil Steel, rubber, and oil industriesindustries
– Roads and highways Roads and highways are built are built (more new jobs!)(more new jobs!)
– Gas stations, hotels, Gas stations, hotels, and restaurants and restaurants sprang up across the sprang up across the country country (more new jobs!)(more new jobs!)
– New industries create New industries create new jobsnew jobs
Social EffectsSocial Effects– Growth of suburbsGrowth of suburbs
People could live People could live outside the city and outside the city and drive to work drive to work (commute)(commute)
– Driving gave women Driving gave women more freedommore freedom
– Easier to travel and Easier to travel and communicate with communicate with other cities & townsother cities & towns
SUSPENSE SHOWS
NEWS
SPORTS
POPULAR SONGS
How did radio change US society?
•Created a new lifestyle
•Families gathered around the radio for entertainment & information
•News traveled faster, revolutionized advertising,
entertainment, politics
CONCLUSION CONCLUSION
How did cultural changes influence How did cultural changes influence American society during the 1920’s?American society during the 1920’s?– Prohibition caused an increase in organized Prohibition caused an increase in organized
crime (organized crime remained after repeal)crime (organized crime remained after repeal)– Women’s right to vote forever changed Women’s right to vote forever changed
American politicsAmerican politics– Women’s role in society begins to change Women’s role in society begins to change
New roles/professions outside the home New roles/professions outside the home
– New inventions created new industries and put New inventions created new industries and put more people to work/radio changed more people to work/radio changed communicationcommunication
1920’s Life & Times 1920’s Life & Times
Fun times & FadsFun times & Fads FlappersFlappers
Young women who Young women who rebelled against rebelled against traditiontradition
Short hair, short Short hair, short dresses, smoking, and dresses, smoking, and bootleg alcoholbootleg alcohol
Other fads include:Other fads include: Flagpole sitting, dance Flagpole sitting, dance
marathons, the marathons, the Charleston (dance) Charleston (dance)
Fear of Fear of CommunismCommunism & & Anarchy (people who Anarchy (people who oppose the oppose the government)government) Communist Communist leaders leaders
(Lenin/USSR) called for (Lenin/USSR) called for workers everywhere to workers everywhere to overthrow their overthrow their governmentsgovernments
Americans saw strikes Americans saw strikes across the nation as the across the nation as the start of a communist start of a communist revolution (revolution (Red ScareRed Scare))
During the Red Scare, During the Red Scare, thousands were arrestedthousands were arrested
1920’s Art & Social Attitudes 1920’s Art & Social Attitudes
Jazz Jazz blends W. African blends W. African rhythm, African American rhythm, African American Spirituals, European Spirituals, European HarmonyHarmony new brand of music is new brand of music is
appreciated by all appreciated by all Harlem RenaissanceHarlem Renaissance
Rebirth of African American Rebirth of African American cultureculture
Langston HughesLangston Hughes was the was the best known poet of the erabest known poet of the era
Writes about the Writes about the experiences of African experiences of African Americans Americans
African Americans face African Americans face widespread prejudicewidespread prejudice Rebirth of KKKRebirth of KKK Racial tensions cause Racial tensions cause
rioting in big citiesrioting in big cities Return of Return of nativismnativism (anti- (anti-
foreign feeling)foreign feeling) Quota systemQuota system limits the limits the
amount of immigrants amount of immigrants that can enter the U.S.that can enter the U.S. System favored immigrants System favored immigrants
from N. Europe over W. from N. Europe over W. EuropeEurope
Notable EventsNotable Events Sacco and Vanzetti TrialSacco and Vanzetti Trial
Trial symbolized the anti-foreign feeling of the 1920’s Trial symbolized the anti-foreign feeling of the 1920’s (Nativism)(Nativism)
Sacco & Vanzetti were Italian immigrants who were Sacco & Vanzetti were Italian immigrants who were arrested for robbery and murder with limited evidencearrested for robbery and murder with limited evidence
After a trial that many thought was unfair, they were After a trial that many thought was unfair, they were executedexecuted
Scopes TrialScopes Trial The trial centered on the debate between the The trial centered on the debate between the Biblical Biblical
Creation TheoryCreation Theory versus versus Darwin’s Theory of EvolutionDarwin’s Theory of Evolution John Scopes taught evolution in class and was arrestedJohn Scopes taught evolution in class and was arrested Scopes was convicted and fined and the laws against Scopes was convicted and fined and the laws against
teaching evolution remained but were rarely enforcedteaching evolution remained but were rarely enforced
Heroes of the 1920’sHeroes of the 1920’sCharles A. LindberghCharles A. Lindbergh
Crosses the Atlantic in the Spirit of Crosses the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. LouisSt. Louis
Babe RuthBabe RuthHelped the Yankees win 7 World Helped the Yankees win 7 World
SeriesSeriesHelen WillsHelen Wills
Becomes tennis champ and a role Becomes tennis champ and a role model for womenmodel for women
Chicago, 1922. Female Beach Goers
Arrested for Indecent Exposure
I, too sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
Eat in the kitchen,
Then.
Besides, they’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.
Anything GoesWords & Music by Cole Porter 1927
In olden days a glimpse of stocking Was looked on as something shocking
Now heaven knows, anything goes
Good authors too who once knew better words Now only use four letter words writing prose
Anything goes
“America must be kept American”
Calvin Coolidge
“The business of America is business. The man who builds a factory builds a
temple. The man who works there worships
there”
Calvin Coolidge
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