The Roaring 20s

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The Roaring 20s

• Conservatism, Affluence and Cultural Frivolity

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First Modern Decade

• Social, economic and political change
• Culture reflected urban, industrial and
  consumer-oriented society
• Consumption/leisure replaced self-denial and work
  ethic
• Conflicts included
• Immigration restrictions
• Prohibition
• Race Relations

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Politics The Republican Era

• Warren G. Harding 1920 Election victory
• Return to Normalcy pre-war isolationism
• Puts end to two decades of progressive reform
• obscure and undistinguished
• Pragmatic (practical approach) vs. Intellectual
• Brought best minds of the day into his cabinet

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Harding Presidency

• Riddled by Corruption
• Attorney General and others in the Justice
  Department found influence peddling
• Interior Secretary Albert Fall leases government
  oil reserves at Elk Falls, Cal. and Teapot Dome,
  Wyoming to oilmen in return for 400,000 in
  bribes
• Teapot Dome becomes symbol of Harding
  administration
• Suffered stroke while on speaking tour in 1923
• 1962 Historians Poll ranked last of 31
  presidents

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Keep Cool with Coolidge

• Calvin Coolidge
• Won 1924 election as incumbent
• Favored reduced government spending low taxes
• The Business of America is Business
• Refuses aid to farmers who are in need
• His failure to act on economic matters helped
  bring on Great Depression

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1928 The Prohibition Election

• Herbert Hoover (R)
• For prohibition
• Former Sec. of Commerce
• Architect of the current economic prosperity
• Seen by some as too progressive

• Al Smith (D)
• Against prohibition
• 1st Catholic candidate to run for president
• Rum and Romanism
• Poor family start to become Gov. of New York

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Hoovers Volunteerism

• Rugged Individualism
• Voluntary self-regulation by business ensures
  economic growth
• Generally associated with Stock Market Crash and
  Great Depression