The 1920sThe 1920s

Copy the words in Copy the words in REDRED

Harding’s Best MindsHarding’s Best MindsWarren G. Harding elected in 1920 Presidential Election.

Chose best minds for his cabinet -Andrew Mellon as Sec. of Treasury balances budget and lowers taxes!

Herbert Hoover becomes Sec. of Commerce helps America expand overseas.

The Ohio GangThe Ohio Gang Pres. Harding uses political friends Pres. Harding uses political friends

from Ohio who become known as from Ohio who become known as the the Ohio GangOhio Gang..

Friends cause problems and Friends cause problems and embarrassment embarrassment

Head of Veterans Bureau, Charles Head of Veterans Bureau, Charles Forbes, gets convicted for Forbes, gets convicted for stealingstealing millions of dollars from millions of dollars from the bureauthe bureau

Teapot Dome ScandalTeapot Dome ScandalHarding dies in August of 1923

After his death, more scandals are revealed.

Largest is known as the Teapot Dome scandal.

Involves Sec. of Interior, Albert Fall and Attorney General, Harry M. Daugherty.

Fall leases land to oil companies for bribes.

Becomes first Cabinet official ever sent to prison!

Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge Took the oath of office from his father, a Took the oath of office from his father, a

Justice of the Peace in Vermont.Justice of the Peace in Vermont. Known as Silent CalKnown as Silent Cal Forced officials involved in scandals to Forced officials involved in scandals to

resign.resign. Like Harding, believed in prosperity - cut Like Harding, believed in prosperity - cut

government regulations and named government regulations and named business leadersbusiness leaders to head Gov’t to head Gov’t agencies.agencies.

Laissez-Faire = government stays out of Laissez-Faire = government stays out of big business (hands off!)big business (hands off!)

Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs(Europe)(Europe)

After WWI, the US is the world’s leading power!After WWI, the US is the world’s leading power! A weakened Europe expects the US to take the A weakened Europe expects the US to take the

lead in world affairs.lead in world affairs. Both Harding and Coolidge wanted peace in Both Harding and Coolidge wanted peace in

Europe but did Europe but did NOTNOT want US to be the world’s want US to be the world’s peacekeeperpeacekeeper..

In 1921, Harding signs separate peace treaties In 1921, Harding signs separate peace treaties with the powers defeated in WWI (Germany, with the powers defeated in WWI (Germany, Austria and Hungary but does Austria and Hungary but does NOTNOT join the join the League of Nations.League of Nations.

US remains US remains isolationistisolationist..

Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs((Soviet Union Soviet Union a.k.a.a.k.a. USSR USSR))

Lenin creates world’s first Lenin creates world’s first CommunistCommunist nation, nation, the Soviet Union, from what was once Russia the Soviet Union, from what was once Russia and parts of Europe.and parts of Europe.

The US refused to recognize Lenin’s government The US refused to recognize Lenin’s government (most American’s disliked Communism as they (most American’s disliked Communism as they like having private property!)like having private property!)

In 1921, when famine threatens USSR, US sends In 1921, when famine threatens USSR, US sends $20 million in aid and saves possibly as many as $20 million in aid and saves possibly as many as 10 million Russians from starvation.10 million Russians from starvation.

US may not like their US may not like their governmentgovernment but still but still willing to help their willing to help their peoplepeople..

The Red ScareThe Red Scare Resulted from fear of radicals and communists.Resulted from fear of radicals and communists. Some believed that the Some believed that the communist ideascommunist ideas of of

the Russian Revolution would spread to the U.S.the Russian Revolution would spread to the U.S. Following a bombing blamed on radicals, Following a bombing blamed on radicals,

Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer began the Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer began the Palmer Raids, aimed at searching and arresting Palmer Raids, aimed at searching and arresting thousands of suspected radicals.thousands of suspected radicals.

Eventually, the Scare faded and people decided Eventually, the Scare faded and people decided that radicals did not pose a that radicals did not pose a serious threatserious threat..

Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs(Latin America)(Latin America)

During WWI Latin America was cut off from During WWI Latin America was cut off from Europe - as a result, American trade and Europe - as a result, American trade and investment in the region investment in the region increasedincreased..

In 1926, revolution breaks out in Nicaragua In 1926, revolution breaks out in Nicaragua (Americans own RR and plantations) and US (Americans own RR and plantations) and US sends in Marines to oversee new elections.sends in Marines to oversee new elections.

In 1927, Mexico announced plans to take over In 1927, Mexico announced plans to take over “foreign owned” oil & mining companies. US “foreign owned” oil & mining companies. US investors ask Pres. Coolidge to send in troops.investors ask Pres. Coolidge to send in troops.

Coolidge sends in a diplomat, Dwight Morrow, Coolidge sends in a diplomat, Dwight Morrow, and works out a and works out a compromisecompromise with Mexico with Mexico instead.instead.

Declaring Peace Declaring Peace Many believed an arms race Many believed an arms race

caused WWI.caused WWI. US worked for US worked for disarmamentdisarmament

throughout the 1920’s.throughout the 1920’s. US, Britain and Japan agree to limit US, Britain and Japan agree to limit

the size of their the size of their naviesnavies.. In 1928, US joins 61 countries in In 1928, US joins 61 countries in

the the Kellogg-Briand PactKellogg-Briand Pact..

Declaring PeaceDeclaring Peace((Kellogg-Briand PactKellogg-Briand Pact))

Declaring PeaceDeclaring Peace((Kellogg-Briand PactKellogg-Briand Pact))

This treaty was designed by US Sec. Of This treaty was designed by US Sec. Of State, Frank Kellogg.State, Frank Kellogg.

Treaty outlaws WAR!Treaty outlaws WAR! Treaty has a major flaw as it does NOT Treaty has a major flaw as it does NOT

set up any means for keeping the set up any means for keeping the peace.peace.

One nation could still use force against One nation could still use force against another w/o fear of punishment.another w/o fear of punishment.

ImmigrationImmigration ImmigrationImmigration rose rapidly rose rapidly

following WWI.following WWI. Strong anti-immigrant feelings Strong anti-immigrant feelings

swept the nation.swept the nation. Two Congressional acts were Two Congressional acts were

passed in the early 1920s , limiting passed in the early 1920s , limiting immigration through the creation immigration through the creation of quotas.of quotas.

Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan Strongly opposed Strongly opposed

immigration.immigration. Membership Membership increasedincreased

drastically during the drastically during the 1920s.1920s.

Targeted not only African Targeted not only African Americans, but Americans, but CatholicsCatholics, , JewsJews, and , and foreignersforeigners..

Became a force in politics Became a force in politics and and influenced influenced electionselections..

Klan’s influence lessened Klan’s influence lessened toward the mid-1920s.toward the mid-1920s.

Minorities in the 1920sMinorities in the 1920s The NAACP (National Association for the The NAACP (National Association for the

Advancement of Colored People) worked to fight Advancement of Colored People) worked to fight discriminationdiscrimination against black people and open the against black people and open the doors of opportunity.doors of opportunity.

Mexicans and Mexican-Americans moved to U.S. Mexicans and Mexican-Americans moved to U.S. cities to cities to fill jobsfill jobs during WWI and more moved in during WWI and more moved in during the 1920s. They settled primarily in the during the 1920s. They settled primarily in the Southwest and northern cities. They often Southwest and northern cities. They often received low wages and faced discrimination.received low wages and faced discrimination.

Many Native Americans fought in WWI and were Many Native Americans fought in WWI and were rewarded with rewarded with citizenshipcitizenship (legal protections and (legal protections and voting privileges) in 1924. Many, however, still voting privileges) in 1924. Many, however, still lived in lived in povertypoverty. .

The EndThe End