1. A Brief Introduction to 1920s American Politics

2. A Brief Intro to 1920s Politics
                                             
Warren G. Harding was elected as
President in 1920
He is remembered for the variety in
the quality of his cabinet ministers.
For example, there were cases of
corruption such as in the Teapot
Dome Scandal where the Secretary
of Interior Albert Fall, took bribes
from the oil industry.

3. In 1924 Calvin Coolidge
became president
“Cool Cal” or “Silent Cal” rarely
spoke and let the businesses in
America do what they wanted.
Coolidge’s motto was “the
business of America is business”.
During Coolidge’s presidency
the nation experienced
prosperous times.

4. Immigration
There was a good deal of intolerance to immigrants interesting given
that it is by definition a nation made up of immigrants!)
For example, the Sacco and Vanzetti Case
On May 5, 1920 two Italian immigrants (Nicola Sacco and Bartolemeo
Vanzetti) were arrested for the murder of two individuals.
Since Sacco and Vanzetti were immigrants and anarchists they were
sentenced to death with little evidence. This trial showed America’s
resentment towards both immigrants (Nativism) and anarchists /
communists.

5. Conservatism v Liberalism
A more liberal attitude in some areas of society led to
a challenging of Conservative orthodoxy. For example,
Women who felt liberated by the women’s
suffrage (voting) movement.
These women began to wear dresses that came to their
knees and participated in social and political events. The
women who adopted this more “boyish” look were
known as Flappers.
Dance and Music also became freer and more lively
in a reflection of the liberalising of society.

6. Evolutionism vs. Creationism
The Scopes Trial (Monkey Trial)
In 1925, John T. Scopes (a high school
biology teacher) was put on trial for teaching
evolution.
The debate was supposed to be over a
teacher’s right to choose what to teach, but
turned into what scientific theory was right:
Evolutionism or Creationism.

7. Prohibition On January 16, 1920)- The 18th amendment to the
constitution
Prohibiting the sale,
manufacture and transportation
of liquor was passed .
In 1933, the 21st amendment
repealed the prohibition of
alcohol.

8. Prohibition Prohibition was a failure because
people refused to comply with the
new law.
People would go to Speakeasies
to buy alcohol. and Prohibition
helped create the Mafia and
brought Al Capone to prominence.
Capone was eventually convicted of
tax evasion and sent to Alcatraz.

9. Women’s Suffage On 26 August 1920 Congress and 37 states gave
women the right to vote.
This campaign was led by
Carrie Chapman Catt.

10. The Politics of Colour Race and the rights of the African
American have been a political issue
throughout American history. There
were some significant leaders of Black politics in the 1920s
W.E.B. Du Bois helped start the
N.A.A.C.P. (National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People). This organization protested
the “shameful treatment of the
African-Americans”.

11. The Politics of Colour cont.
Marcus Garvey began
the Universal Negro Improvement
Association. Garvey expressed two
main views:
1. Black people should go back to
Africa
2. “Black is beautiful”.

12. Works Cited http://www.baberuth.com/photos/rutb045.html