The Roaring Twenties Part 2 Politics and Prosperity
Karl Marx Wrote the Communist Manifesto in
Communism A political and economic ideology –Government ownership of all land and property –A classless society where wealth is distributed according to people’s needs –A single political party controlled by the government –The country’s needs are always more important than the individual 79
Origins and ideas of Communism and Socialism
Bolsheviks Communists rebels who overthrew the Russian government in Nov Russian word for “majority” Led by Vladimir Lenin Their emblem was a red flag Their army was called the Red Army 80
Vladimir Lenin –Leader of 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia
Lenin dies in 1924 – Body encased in glass mausoleum
Lenin’s embalmed body
The Red Scare An intense fear of communism and other radical political ideas that spread through the U.S. in the 1920’s Triggered by Communist take-over of Russia and Hungary and labor strikes in the U.S. Suspected communists were arrested and charged with sedition Many were jailed, removed from office, or exiled 81
Immigration During the 20’s Emergency Quota Act said admission to the United States was based on immigrants’ ethnic identity and national origin. National Origins Act of 1924 exempted Mexicans from the quota system
Red Scare
Sedition Any action or language that incites rebellion against the authority of the government 82
The Red Scare: Democracy in danger?
Anarchists People who oppose any form of political authority 83
Sacco-Vanzetti Trial April 1920 – Braintree, MA Guard and paymaster at a shoe factory were robbed and killed 2 Italian immigrants were arrested Convicted and sentenced to death Many believed that it was fear of their radical anarchist political beliefs that led to an unfair verdict April Both were electrocuted after years of appeals 84
Bartolomeo Vanzetti & Nicola Sacco
The guilty verdict was protested internationally
A mob in Mexico protests the execution
The American Civil Liberties Union founded during the Red Scare (1919– 1921) because the accused needed advocates to ensure their civil rights
Eugene Debs Ran for president on a platform of socialism
Warren G. Harding 29 th President 1921 – 1923 Republican From Ohio Campaign called for a return to “ normalcy ” 85
“Normalcy” Harding’s suggestion that the U.S. wished to return to a calm, normal way of life after the stressful events of the previous decade, such as Progressivism, World War I, and the Red Scare 86
Normalcy
Harding’s Policies Isolationism – U.S. would not join the League of Nations Disarmament – nations should voluntarily give up their weapons Immigration restrictions Tariffs raised to protect American business from foreign competition 87
Teapot Dome Scandal Harding’s Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall, gave drilling rights on government owned naval oil fields in Wyoming to 2 private oil companies Received nearly $400,000 illegally No evidence that Harding was involved Fall was fined $100,000 and sentenced to a year in prison 88
Teapot Dome, Wyoming The Ohio Gang was blamed: Harding's buddies
Whom is this cartoonist blaming for the Teapot Dome scandal?
Effects of Scandals a.began to have distrust for the elected officials
Calvin Coolidge 30 th President Republican Massachusetts VP under Harding - Takes office when Harding dies in Aug continued
Calvin Coolidge A man of few words – “Silent Cal” “The chief business of the American people is business.” Took a laissez-faire approach to business The government should leave business alone and let it grow 89
Kellogg-Briand Pact Agreement written by U.S. Secretary of State, Kellogg, and French Foreign Minister, Briand 60 nations pledged not to use the threat of war against each other 90
Factors that led to the Boom Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon persuaded Congress to stimulate the U.S. economy by Reducing federal taxes Buying of Stock= Stocks allowed business to expand New technologies (like the radio leading to consumerism and the automobile)
Consumer Economy An economy that depends on a large amount of spending by consumers 91
What are consumers and producers?
Larger profits for business Wages for workers increase People consume products Consumer Economy Cycle 92
GNP Increased Gross National Product The measure of a country’s productivity The total value of goods and services produced annually 93
New Electric Gadgets Available to the American Consumer Radios Toasters Vacuum cleaners Sewing machines Refrigerators Coffee pots Ovens Irons
1920’s General Electric Electric Range
Electric refrigerators replaced “iceboxes”
Catalogs sold everything for the home – including the home
And what was the greatest invention of the age?
Henry Ford 1896 – invented the quadricycle 1899 – started the Detroit Automobile Company – made 22 cars 1900 – business failed 94 continued
Henry Ford 1901 – There were over 50 companies making cars, but only the wealthy could afford them Ford wanted to “democratize the automobile” by making them cheaper 1903 – Started the Ford Motor Company Mass produced the Model T using assembly line production 94
Assembly Line A process in which each worker completes a single specific task in the production process At the end of the line, the product is complete Ford’s assembly line produced a Model T every 24 seconds 95
How did Henry Ford convince investors to back his plan to produce cheap reliable cars after his first venture had failed? Question -
Answer Ford, at the age of 38, entered a race against the most famous racer in the country, Alexander Winton. Ford’s “Sweepstakes” had 26 horsepower. Winton’s “Bullet” had 70 horsepower.
In a 10 lap race, Ford came from behind in the 7th lap to beat Winton by a wide margin, averaging 45 mph. What made the difference?
Winton’s car began to misfire badly, but Ford’s car had a spark coil insulated with a porcelain case designed by a dentist. (The forerunner of the spark plug) Ford won $1000 and a punch bowl, and found financial backers for his new car company.
Ford gaining on Winton in Oct race in Grosse Point, MI Ford (the man) Ford (the car)
Henry Ford’s “Sweepstakes” 2 cylinders – 539 cubic inches – 26 hp – top speed 72 mph
Ford and the 1921 Model T
Model T – 15 million sold between 1908 and Model
1923 Ford Grain Truck
The Automobile
How did Americans afford all these new toys?
Installment Plans Manufacturers attracted consumers by allowing payments over time Dramatically increased demand for goods Items most likely bought on credit: –Cars –Furniture –Vacuum cleaners, radios, refrigerators –Washing machines 96
Speculation The practice of making high-risk investments in hopes of getting a huge return The rapid rise of stock prices throughout the 1920’s convinced people that they could “get rich quick” 97
Buying on Margin Common people with little money would buy stocks by putting 10 – 50 percent down and borrowing the rest owed If the stocks went down in price, the investor still owed the full amount for them plus the interest on the loan 98
Welfare Capitalism In order to prevent more labor strikes, employers began to improve conditions by offering –Higher wages –Paid vacations –Health insurance –English classes 99
Consumerism in 20’s
Herbert Hoover 31 st President 1929 – 1933 Republican New York Continued to keep government out of business 100