Adjusting to Peace 1919- 1921 & The Presidents

Adjusting to Peace 1919-1921 Americans and veterans alike wanted to return to the traditional policy of Isolationism The Government stopped its wartime spending and soldiers were home and looking for jobs.

Adjusting to Peace 1919-1921 Most of the factories that were to produce military good reverted back into civilian job factories and many farmers lost their jobs in Europe These factors led to a temporary economic recession in the U.S. from 1919 to 1921 Recession- A slowdown in economic activity, Investment spending household incomes and business profits fall, Bankruptcies and Unemployment are on the rise

The Presidents: Warren Harding Inauguration Address Our eyes never will be blind to a developing menace, our ears never deaf to the call of civilization. We recognize the new order in the world, with the closer contacts which progress has wrought. We crave friendship and harbor no hate. But America can be a party to no permanent military alliance. It can enter into no political commitments, nor assume any economic obligations which will subject our decisions to any other than our own authority. It has been proved again and again that we cannot, while throwing our markets open to the world, maintain American standards of living and opportunity, and hold our industrial eminence in such unequal competition.

Warren G. Harding 1921-1923 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u2-t6w4HnM Return to Normalcy was his campaign slogan. Less focused on foreign policy and put a greater emphasis on peacetime production and prosperity at home. Fought for greater African American rights in 1921 and supported an anti- lynching bill Pursued arms reduction by sponsoring the Washington Naval Conference Supported U.S. Membership in the World Court

Warren G. Harding: The Teapot Dome Scandal One of President Harding’s Weaknesses was appointing friends as his personal cabinet A.K.A. The Ohio Gang The Secretary of the Interior leased rich oil rich government lands at Teapot Dome, Wyoming to two business friends in exchange for personal bribes. Additional scandals also emerged in different departments Charles Forbes stole millions from construction of hospitals for returning war veterans These scandals left a lasting stain on Harding's reputation as president

Calvin Coolidge 1923-1929 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUkBE-OCHIU Gained national attention during the Boston Police Strike of 1919 believed there should be no strike against public safety Became Harding’s Vice- President and then became president after Harding’s sudden death in 1923 Continued Harding’s pro Business polices and made the motto “the business of Americans is business” Got the nickname Silent Cal for speaking infrequently Some have accused Coolidge’s laissez- faire approach to the stock market crash of 1929

Herbert Hoover 1929-1933 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuRsKiruKAE Skilled engineer and self made millionaire, he distributed relief aid to Belgian children and over saw the U.S. food production during the war In his campaign he predicted that if he was elected then there would be an end to poverty Believed in Rugged Individualism – American living standards were being raised at a rapid pace because of equal opportunities, free education, and a will to succeed Hoover felt that too much government interference in business would undermine the nation’s prosperity by increasing corruption, smothering initiative and extinguishing opportunity, and dry up the spirit of liberty and progress