Section 1 Presidential Politics

  Why It Matters:  Prosperity was the theme of the 1920’s, and national policy favored business.  Farmers were going through an economic depression, but most people remained optimistic about the economy.  Middle class bought on credit the many new convenience products available - automobile Chapter 21 Quick Overview

  Important elements of American life were first seen at this time.  The automobile remains central to American transportation.  Credit is a standard means for making purchases. Chapter 21: The Impact Today

  Describe the corruption that tainted the Harding Administration  Explain how Calvin Coolidge restored public confidence in the presidency  Normalcy  Ohio Gang  Teapot Dome Scandal Main Ideas & Vocabulary

  In 1920, Warren G. Harding ran for president  Campaign slogan “return to normalcy.”  Easily won The Harding Administration

  The Ohio Gang  Harding’s Cabinet  Some good appointments  Most were just his friends  Unethical….maybe even…Criminal  sold jobs, pardons and protection from prosecution  Colonel Charles R. Forbes – Sect of Veterans Affairs sells medical supplies & takes profits…costing taxpayers $250 million. The Harding Administration

  Teapot Dome Scandal  Albert B. Fall – Sect. of the Interior cheaply leased oil land that belonged to the U.S. Navy.  Teapot Dome, Wyoming  bribes > $300,000  Goes to prison The Harding Administration

  Coolidge very different from Harding  Frugal, Conservative, Pro-business  Distances himself from Harding administration  Prosperity through business leadership  Very little gov’t intervention  “Stay cool with Coolidge.”  Wins 1924 nomination The Coolidge Administration

  1924 election  Democrat John W. Davis  3 rd party, the Progressives, Robert M. La Follette.  Coolidge takes half of popular vote  Coolidge promised to give US the normalcy that Harding had not. The Coolidge Administration

 Main Ideas & Vocabulary  Analyze how the growing importance of the automobile and other new industries improved the US standard of living  Analyze the growing economic crisis in farming in the 1920’s.

 The Rise of New Industries  1920’s, Americans enjoyed a new standard of living  Wages increased / work hours decreased  Vacation Time  Mass production  Greater productivity led to emergence of new industries  Assembly Line  Model T  93 min vs 12 hrs to build a car.  $850 first year, but price dropped significantly - $360

 The Rise of New Industries  Ford  Increased workers’ wages  Reduced workday = loyalty  Undercut unions  “Sociological Department”  Competition spurs growth  Steel, rubber, plate glass, garages, gas stations, petroleum  How might the automobile have helped those living in rural areas?

 The Rise of New Industries  Disposable income made innovations affordable  Electric razors, frozen foods, cleaning supplies, washing machines, refrigerators...  1919 the USPS expands airmail services  Kelly Act – private planes carry mail  Air Commerce Act – Federal $ build airports

 The Rise of New Industries  Charles Lindbergh  By end of 1928, 48 airlines serving 355 American cities.

 The Consumer Society  Higher wages and shorter workdays  Decade-long buying spree and economic boom  Buying on credit  Debt viewed differently  Advertising influence  Mass Advertising  Why do we need Sliced bread ?  What about today?

 The Farm Crisis Returns  Crop prices drop, but farming technology $$$ increases  Farmers earn less than 1/3 of the average worker  Farmers prospered during WWI…Why?  Tariffs hurt farmers

  By 1920’s, USA was dominant world economic power  US national income > than GB, Germany, France & Japan  Why ?  Americans favored Isolationism  US too powerful and interconnected to remain isolated  Other countries wanted US to help w/ war debt  America disagrees  Why? Trade and arms control

 Trade and Arms control  Reparations crippled the German economy  Charles Dawes - The Dawes Plan  USA lends $ to Germany to pay reparations  England & France agreed to lower reparations  England & France repay debt to USA

  Kellogg-Briand Pact – “outlaws war”  No country can declare war on another – no aggression, only in self defense.  On August 27 th, 1928, the US and 14 other nations sign it, and eventually 62 nations ratify it  Weakness is that it has no binding force