1. Politics of the 1920’s

2. Warren G. Harding Elected on promise to “return to normalcy”
Read: isolationist
Filled cabinet with friends
Good: Hughes, Mellon, Hoover
Bad: Fall and Daugherty
Harding traits:
Mediocre mind
Blind to corruption
Hated to hurt people
Bad manager

3. GOP in Charge Pushed back against Progressive achievements
Return to laissez-faire
Packed Supreme Court with pro-biz judges to help biz profits
Women lose “special privileges” in work

4. After the War Railroads returned to private companies
Gov’t encourages consolidation
ICC promises profitability
Labor loses gov’t support without wartime needs
Veterans demand financial benefits
Congress pledges upfront insurance policy to be paid in 20 years

5. Foreign Relations Ends war with Germany in July 1921
Isolationism is America’s ultimate goal but not totally doable
Middle East:
Oil played HUGE role in WWI, likely to be equally important in future wars
Sec. Hughes secure rights of US oil companies in mid east
Disarmament
America ready to stop spending so much on navy

6. Treaties to Disarm Countries will limit the size of their navies
USA & UK have largest quotas; Japan very small
Japan offended; US and UK agree to not fortify Far East holdings but Japan can
Kellogg-Briand Pact
Outlaws wars but permits “defensive wars”