Chapter 13Chapter 13Section 2Section 2

The Republicans The Republicans

In PowerIn Power

The Election of 1920The Election of 1920

Seeking a candidate with broad appeal, Republicans Seeking a candidate with broad appeal, Republicans nominated Warren G. Harding for the 1920 electionnominated Warren G. Harding for the 1920 election

{the Harding administration {the Harding administration believed in pro-believed in pro-business practicesbusiness practices,} ,} higher tariffs, limits on higher tariffs, limits on immigration and a return to normalcy immigration and a return to normalcy

Harding won the presidency in a landslideHarding won the presidency in a landslide The administration set out to reduce the national The administration set out to reduce the national

debt, as it had risen from $1 billion in 1914 to $25 debt, as it had risen from $1 billion in 1914 to $25 billion in 1919, by slashing spending.billion in 1919, by slashing spending.

Congress also passed the Congress also passed the {{Fordney-McCumber Fordney-McCumber Tariff ActTariff Act in 1922, pushing tariff rates on in 1922, pushing tariff rates on manufactured good to an all time high}manufactured good to an all time high}

Continued…Continued… To achieve the goal of economic growth, To achieve the goal of economic growth,

Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, proposed taking away the high war time proposed taking away the high war time taxes imposed on wealthy Americans. taxes imposed on wealthy Americans. Claiming that if their taxes were lowered Claiming that if their taxes were lowered they would have more money to invest, thus they would have more money to invest, thus the economy would growthe economy would grow

Mellon argued that the benefits would Mellon argued that the benefits would trickle down to the poor and middle class in trickle down to the poor and middle class in the form of jobs and higher wagesthe form of jobs and higher wages

Sound silly?? Well, Congress passed it. Of Sound silly?? Well, Congress passed it. Of course they were all in the wealthy group. course they were all in the wealthy group. In all honesty though it did workIn all honesty though it did work

The Effects of Republican The Effects of Republican PoliciesPolicies

More than 1,000 More than 1,000 mergers- mergers- the combining of the combining of two or more companies- took place in this eratwo or more companies- took place in this era

By 1930 200 corporations owned nearly half of By 1930 200 corporations owned nearly half of the nations corporate wealththe nations corporate wealth

For the most part workers did not share in the For the most part workers did not share in the business profits. While business profits business profits. While business profits increased by 60% the salaries increased by increased by 60% the salaries increased by about 10%about 10%

Farmers still faced a shrinking market, low Farmers still faced a shrinking market, low prices, high interest rates and debtprices, high interest rates and debt

Federal courts also upheld “yellow-dog Federal courts also upheld “yellow-dog contracts” which prevented workers from contracts” which prevented workers from joining unions. joining unions. {Business leaders promoted a {Business leaders promoted a policy known as the policy known as the American PlanAmerican Plan which which supported union-free open shops}supported union-free open shops}

New Direction for New Direction for WomenWomen

After the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment After the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment divisions in the women’s rights movement came divisions in the women’s rights movement came about in the debate over the Equal Rights about in the debate over the Equal Rights AmendmentAmendment

It was proposed to Congress in 1923 by Alice Paul It was proposed to Congress in 1923 by Alice Paul of the National Woman’s Party. It stated that men of the National Woman’s Party. It stated that men and women would have equal rights throughout the and women would have equal rights throughout the U.S. and every place subject to its jurisdictionU.S. and every place subject to its jurisdiction

{The Equal Rights Amendment was {The Equal Rights Amendment was opposed by opposed by many reformersmany reformers,},} like those who had fought so like those who had fought so hard to get better hours and working conditions for hard to get better hours and working conditions for women, now they would be the same as men women, now they would be the same as men hurting their chance to get a jobhurting their chance to get a job

In the end the Equal Rights Amendment failed to In the end the Equal Rights Amendment failed to win political supportwin political support

The Harding ScandalsThe Harding Scandals A group of Harding’s constituents known as the Ohio A group of Harding’s constituents known as the Ohio

Gang was using their connections to the president to Gang was using their connections to the president to enrich themselves at the public’s expenseenrich themselves at the public’s expense

Charles Forbes, the director of the Veterans Bureau Charles Forbes, the director of the Veterans Bureau was pocketing millions through corrupt schemes was pocketing millions through corrupt schemes

The most notorious scandal was revealed after The most notorious scandal was revealed after Harding’s death in office.Harding’s death in office.

{The {The Teapot Dome ScandalTeapot Dome Scandal, involving friends of , involving friends of Warren Harding, exposed the Secretary of the Warren Harding, exposed the Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall, had granted private leases to oil Interior, Albert Fall, had granted private leases to oil reserves in California and Wyoming}reserves in California and Wyoming}

In return conspirators received personal loans, cash In return conspirators received personal loans, cash and cattleand cattle

Fall was convicted and jailedFall was convicted and jailed

This cartoon depicts the "steamrolling" effect This cartoon depicts the "steamrolling" effect of the Teapot Dome oil scandal of the Harding of the Teapot Dome oil scandal of the Harding

Administration in the 1920s.Administration in the 1920s.

Coolidge Takes ChargeCoolidge Takes Charge After Harding’s death, his After Harding’s death, his {Vice President {Vice President Calvin Calvin

CoolidgeCoolidge, known as Silent Cal,}, known as Silent Cal,} was sworn in. was sworn in. Coolidge easily won the election in 1924Coolidge easily won the election in 1924 {{Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge was even more pro-business than was even more pro-business than

Harding he declared “the business of America is Harding he declared “the business of America is business”}business”}

Coolidge passed the Revenue Act, which repealed the Coolidge passed the Revenue Act, which repealed the gift tax, cut estate taxes in half and reduced taxes for gift tax, cut estate taxes in half and reduced taxes for the wealthythe wealthy

He vetoed spending bills, such as a bonus bill to He vetoed spending bills, such as a bonus bill to provide aid to WWI veterans and a bill designed to provide aid to WWI veterans and a bill designed to boost farm prices by authorizing the gov. to but boost farm prices by authorizing the gov. to but surplus crops and sell them abroadsurplus crops and sell them abroad

The president remained popular because of the The president remained popular because of the improvement of the economy, but chose not to re-run improvement of the economy, but chose not to re-run in the following electionin the following election

Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge

The Election of 1928The Election of 1928

The Republicans nominated Secretary of The Republicans nominated Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover for president in Commerce Herbert Hoover for president in 19281928

{Hoover {Hoover had a reputation for had a reputation for administrative skill and efficiency}administrative skill and efficiency}

The Democrats nominated Alfred E. Smith, The Democrats nominated Alfred E. Smith, a moderate progressive, with Franklin D. a moderate progressive, with Franklin D. Roosevelt as his running mateRoosevelt as his running mate

Hoover won the electionHoover won the election

Review QuestionsReview Questions The Harding administration believed in pro-________ The Harding administration believed in pro-________

practicespractices What did the Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act in 1922, do to What did the Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act in 1922, do to

Tariff rates?Tariff rates? What was the plan business leaders promoted which What was the plan business leaders promoted which

supported union-free open shopssupported union-free open shops This Amendment was opposed by many reformers, like This Amendment was opposed by many reformers, like

those who had fought so hard to get better hours and those who had fought so hard to get better hours and working conditions for women, working conditions for women,

This Scandal, involving friends of Warren This Scandal, involving friends of Warren Harding, exposed the Secretary of the Interior, Harding, exposed the Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall, had granted private leases to oil Albert Fall, had granted private leases to oil reserves in California and Wyomingreserves in California and Wyoming

This president “the business of America is This president “the business of America is business”business”

Tell me that’s not just a Tell me that’s not just a little creepy. Oh yea, please little creepy. Oh yea, please

don’t try this don’t try this