Unit I- U.S. Political History

20’s and 30’s Presidents

Chapter 22 Section 2 and Chapter 23 Section 1

President Warren G. Harding 29th President 1921-1923 - Republican Post WW I Fears and Headaches- bombs, Bolsheviks

(Red Scare), riots and labor strikes. Foreign Affairs

No League of Nations Washington Conference- Five Power Treaty, Nine-Power

Treaty, and Four Power Treaty- Disarmament

Domestic Affairs- Return to Normalcy Higher Tariffs, lower taxes, less government spending and

aid to disabled soldiers and farmers. Budget and Accounting Act- single budget and control

agencies

Bonus Bill- $60 to vets- Harding vetoed it War Debts- $9 billion owed, only Finland paid. Harding Scandals - The “Ohio Gang”

Charles Forbes- Head of Veterans Bureau Jesse Smith- Aide in Justice Department Thomas Miller- Alien Property Custodian Albert Fall- Sec. of the Interior and “Teapot Dome”

Death of Harding- sudden death while still president

Return to “Normalcy”

Election of 1924 Election of 1924

Democrats-Smith, McAdoo and Davis (Davis chosen as candidate)

Republican- Coolidge and Progressive La Follette- a split between the country and the city.

America kept “Cool with Coolidge”

Issues- Harding scandals Religion Attacks were made against Smith,

claiming that if elected he would make Catholicism the national religion(Smith was Catholic)

Democrats opposed prohibition Republican adopted a “laissez faire” attitude

toward business. Women won 123 seats in state legislatures and

two governors.

President Calvin Coolidge 30th President - 1923-1929 Republican

Government and Business- Freedom of business from governmental rules and regulations. “Laissez-faire”. Large businesses were allowed to be created. Country prospered and the Supreme Court favored business over labor.

“The man who builds a factory, builds a temple and the man who works there, worships there.”

Farm Problem- Farmers got less for what they produced but they paid more for clothes, implements, fuel, necessities and taxes. Coolidge refused to help farmers. “Farmers have never made money,” he said,”I don’t believe we can do much about it.”

“Silent Cal” “The business of America is business”

Election of 1928 Election of 1928

Republican Candidate- Hoover- popular, well known, Dept. of Commerce. Stood for big business, small town and rural America, Protestantism and Prohibition

Democratic Candidate- Al Smith (Catholic governor of New York)

Issues- Prohibition- Republicans favored it. Democrats

wanted to repeal it. Religion Attacks were made against Smith,

claiming that if elected he would make Catholicism the national religion(Smith was Catholic)

Hoover wins but Big Cities went with Smith. They used to be Republican

One of the slogans used by Hoover campaigners was "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage." Hoover went on to an overwhelming victory.

President Herbert Hoover$ 31st President 1929-1933- Republican

$ Who was Hoover? $ Quaker, mining engineer, millionaire$ WWI- Commission of Relief; head of Food

Relief Admin.; Sec. of Commerce

$ Hoover’s Beliefs$ “It is as if we set a race., We, through free and

universal education provide the training of the runners; we give to them an equal start; we provide in the government the umpire of the fairness in the race. The winner is he who shows the most conscientious training, the greatest ability, and the greatest character.”

$ Hoover’s actions in the “Great Crash”$ Traditional approach- Darwin theory.$ Cut taxes and government spending.$ Cities, states and all private charities called on.$ Aid to farmers + increase tariffs to help business$ Public works programs to get people back to work$ Money to help save businesses and help with

mortgages-

Great Crash and Depression