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