1 / 15

The Roaring 20s

The Roaring 20s. Unit Overview. Organizing Principle.

alta
Download Presentation

The Roaring 20s

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. The Roaring 20s Unit Overview

  2. Organizing Principle • The “Roaring Twenties” were an oddity in a sense as they were ushered in on Warren G. Harding’s campaign slogan, “a return to normalcy.” On one hand, this decade is largely marked by isolationism and a McKinley style conservatism in the political realm. On the other hand, this period of introversion displays a radical cultural shift in the American identity that challenged rural American traditions. In this sense, the decade of the 1920s was largely a departure from normalcy.

  3. The Red Scare • Origins—“nativism” and isolationism • Exporting the Bolshevik revolution • Immigration • American Communist Party (tiny) • Instances • The Palmer Raids • Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer • Believed • 6,000 people arrested—bombs galore • Buford-Red Ark • Labor crushed • “commie!” • Sacco and Vanzetti • Italian anarchists

  4. Ku Klux Klan • Second manifestation • Discrimination against: foreigners, Catholics, blacks, Jews, pacifists, communists, bootleggers, evolutionists, gambling, adultery, et cetera… • Demographics • WASPs—fundamentalists • Midwest and Bible Belt • Tactics • Burning crosses and violence • Downfall • Corruption • Violence

  5. Stemming the Foreign Flood • 1920-1921: 800,000 immigrants arrived • Lazarus taken literally • Emergency Quota Act (1921) • 3% of 1910 census from national origins • Immigration Act (1924) • 2% of 1890 census • Discriminates against southern and eastern Europe • U.S. repeals Gentlemen’s Agreement • No restrictions on Western Hemisphere • Canada, Mexico, and Latin America

  6. Quota System

  7. Labor Unrest • Labor during WWI • Strikes were illegal • Strike! Strike! Strike! • 1919—over 3,000 strikes • Labor movement painted red • Boston Police Strike • Crushed by MA governor • Calvin Coolidge • Steel Mill Strike • Crushed with violence • Coal Miner’s Strike • John L. Lewis—success! • 27% pay increase • Labor loses appeal in the 20s

  8. The Ascent of Harding • Harding’s character • Plus—friendly, statesmen looking • Minus—mediocre in ideas, couldn’t say no • Cabinet • The “Ohio Gang” • Harding’s poker playing cronies • Best and Worst Minds

  9. Splendid Isolation • Geneva Health Convention • “unofficial observers” • Middle East • “black gold”—exploited by American companies • Washington Naval Conference (1921-22) • Wealthy don’t want to finance navy • Naval disarmament—10 year “holiday” • 5:5:3 • Proceed with caution • Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) • Outlaws war as a policy*

  10. Economics of the 20s • Andrew Mellon: Treasury Secretary • Tax policies encourage capital investment • Increased productivity • Machines and energy • Markets • Advertisements • Need/Want confusion? • Buying on credit • Installment plan • Superficial prosperity

  11. Tariffs • Republicans favor big business • Fordney-McCumber Tariff (1922) • Raises tax to 38.5% • Tariff Commission empowers president • 32 upward changes • Results • European war debts • Britain and France cannot repay debts • Dawes Plan—loans to Germany • Retaliatory tariffs • Exacerbated the international economic crisis

  12. Harding Harangued • Scandals • Charles R. Forbes—Veteran’s Bureau • Steals $200,000,000 from hospital construction funds • 2 years in jail • Teapot Dome Scandal • Albert B. Fall—SOI—transfers oil rich lands to the Interior Dept. • Fall illegally leases land for bribes ($400,000) • Illegal sale of pardons and liquor permits • Harding’s death prevents full investigation

  13. “Silent Cal” • Conservative New Englander • Famed for breaking up a Boston Police Strike • Supports big business • Supports Mellon’s tax cuts • Mid-Twenties boom • 5 ½ years of prosperity “After all, the chief business of the American people is business.”

More Related