Chapter 22.1

1. Chapter 22.1 Return to Normalcy

2. The 1920’s were a time of conflict, confusion, excitement, and experimentation. • Explain this statement. Give examples. 2. Can this statement apply to the 2000’s?

7. Revolution in Europe • Revolts lead to upheaval in Europe! • Russia = Revolution! • Czar Nicholas toppled • Kerensky gov’t falls • Lenin is in charge • America’s response • Sends troops to “stabilize” government • Sends troops to stop spread of Communism • Results: • Russia doesn’t like the U.S. • The U.S. is scared of Communism

8. Labor Strife • During war = labor peace • After, workers want more benefits and wages…which leads to strikes • Boston – NO COPS! • Coolidge calls in the National Guard • U.S. Steel – 18 workers killed • Coal Strike – broken by the courts • Wilson calls it “unjustifiable and unlawful” • Unions are less popular and weakened

9. Racial Riots • After war, anti-black feelings increased! • Racial tensions begin to rise, especially in the big cities • Fights over employment • Lynchings rise in the South • Red Summer – 25 riots in the summer of 1919 • Worst in Chicago • Atty. General Mitchell Palmer – It’s the Commies!

10. Bomb Scares • Domestic terrorism – bombs go off around the country • Seattle – bomb mailed to the mayor • Georgia – Senator’s maid loses her hands • One explodes on Wall Street • 36 found in all! • More sent a month later… • Atty General Palmer – It’s the Commies!

11. Reaction • Atty. General Palmer – convinced it’s the work of Communist revolutionaries • Palmer declares that there are “Reds” all over the country…and they must be caught and thrown out! • Raids – on anarchists and Communist meetings, many are deported from the country • Criticism – Who hurt America more? • Impact – Americans fear anyone that’s different • Immigrants, blacks, Jews, Catholics, reformers, foreigners

12. Fear of Foreigners • Americans fear foreigners in this country • That’s ironic… • Immigration Restriction League • Immigrants must read • None from Eastern Europe! • National Origins Act – set up quotas for immigrants allowed in • Based on who was here • No Asians! • Exempt: Canadians and Mexicans

13. Re-Emergence of the Klan • They capitalize on these new fears to increase membership • Use violence and terror against newcomers as well as African Americans • Wanted to intimidate anyone who was not a WASP • Membership greatest in the South and West

14. Sacco and Vanzetti • Facts of the case. • Is there evidence? • What happens? • In context: Should you be executed for your political beliefs in this country? • The ultimate question – are they martyrs for democracy?

15. Disillusioned Writers • Some of America’s most talented writers didn’t like what they saw • H.L. Mencken – refers to Americans as “Booboisie” • T.S. Eliot– describes postwar America as “The Wasteland” • Sinclair Lewis, F. Scott Fitgerald, Ernest Hemingway • Make their postwar criticisms clear in writing

16. Prohibition • Temperance movement – discourage intoxicating liquors. Why? • World War I – Prohibition becomes a nat’l concern • Conserve grain • Boycott German breweries • Insure sober, clear-headed workforce • War–time Congress – passes Prohibition • Ratified by ¾ of the states • Becomes 19th Amendment in 1919 • Many Americans had no intention of “going dry” • What was the effect?

22. Suffrage Tell me about it.

23. Chapter 22.2 The Good Old Days

24. Overview • After WWI, there was a yearning for “the good old days”… • Mood – turn within, take care of ourselves… • And Americans did just that when they elected… • Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge • Quote p. 583

25. Harding’s Background • Was originally a newspaper publisher • Entered and became powerful in OH state politics • Elected as U.S. Senator from Ohio for one term • Nominated for President…as a compromise • Little training • But was friendly, likeable, looked like a President, and had few enemies

26. The Harding “Dream Team” • He puts “the best minds” to work for him in his Cabinet… • Charles Evans Hughes = Sec. of State • Herbert Hoover = Sec. of Commerce • Andrew Mellon = Sec. of Treasury • Henry Wallace = Sec. of Agriculture • And he put some of his inexperienced buddies in office, too… • Albert Fall = Sec. of the Interior • Harry Daugherty = Atty. General • They used their offices to help themselves • They were known as… • The Ohio Gang

27. Foreign Affairs • Not a diplomat – out of comfort zone • Wanted nothing to do with the League of Nations • Stay out of international entanglements • Wouldn’t even sign the Versailles Treaty… • The U.S. had its own peace treaty with Germany • Quote p. 584

28. Maritime Treaties • Harding was the first President to have a disarmament conference • Called for great maritime powers to stop building up their navies • Five Power Treaty – no more forts or bases in the Pacific • Nine Power Treaty – China remains open to all; no land or special privileges there • Four Power Treaty – respect each other’s possessions; conflicts settled by conference

29. Domestic Agenda – Part II • 2. To protect businesses from competition abroad, he raised tariffs • Fordney-McCumber Act – tariffs against European goods • Europeans angry – they needed $$$ to buy the goods that we ship • They hit the U.S with tariffs • And it’s a TRADE DISASTER

30. Domestic Agenda – Part I • Post WWI = economic downturn • Solutions= higher tariffs, lower taxes, less spending • 1. Plan Federal Spending • asked Congress to check money demands of each department • Single budget for Congress review (and people to see!) • Gets Congress to pass the Bureau of Budget and the General Accounting Office

31. Bonus Bill • Returning WWI vets get benefits • $60.00 • Hospital care for wounded • They want a bigger bonus for protecting the nation • Harding: It’s you’re patriotic duty to protect this nation • He vetoes the bill • Sorry, guys…

32. War Debts • WWI Allies owe the U.S. $9 million • Allies: It should be cancelled because it was used to protect the U.S. • Harding: Absolutely not. • They were paid in installments • Here’s the madness • Fact: The money is never fully paid back… Germany U.S. Europe

33. Scandals! • Colonel Charles Forbes • Head the Veterans Bureau…and loses $250 million • Jesse Smith • Sells his influence in the Justice Department • Thomas Miller • Oversaw property taken from Germany after the War…and sells it for profit • Albert Fall • Teapot Dome Scandal • U.S. sets aside oil fields as reserves • He leases two for personal profit (“loans” and “gifts”)

34. Chapter 22.3 Keeping Cool With Coolidge

35. Assuming the Presidency • Coolidge at his father’s home in VT when he hears of Harding’s death • His dad, a justice of the peace, administers the oath by kerosene lamp • Coolidge = not a DC “insider” • Spent most of his time in MA and VT.

36. Coolidge – What a Guy… • Quiet, serious, few expressions of emotion • Not really into extensive publicity, disliked having to appear in public • Rumor: He had also died • Response: How would you know? • “The business of the American people is business” • Republican ideal (all the way from Jefferson) • Gov’t is best that governs least • And he restores integrity to the Presidency

37. Election of 1924 • Americans liked the idea of less government (rations in WWI) • Republicans: keep him on the ballot • Note: Bob La Follette (WI) – tried to be a spoiler • Angry about farmers • Broke from Republicans • Ran as a New Progressive • Democrats divided • Conservatives: rural voters (South and West) • Progressive: NE and G. Lakes • Deadlock at convention • Compromise = John W. Davis • Appeals to nobody

38. Women Vote!!! • Americans stay with the status quo • Only 35% of women vote • Why? • Discouraged by family • Couldn’t get out (# kids) • Didn’t think they should • Some success… • 2 governorships • Jeanette Rankin (MT) = first Representative in House

39. Ideals • Gov’t = stay out as much as possible • “If it disappears, you shouldn’t know it for a while” • Free enterprise – freedom of business from gov’t rules • Regulatory agencies (FTC, FRB) – run by pro-business appointees • Supreme Court – backed his ideals (pro-business) • Allows monopolies (USX) • Allows price setting by conglomerates

40. Farm Problems • Everyone was better off…except the farmers • Farm prices dropped • Producing more for less money • Famers demand help • Congress – tried to use U.S. funds to buy surplus • Keep prices up • See surplus to Europe • Coolidge – vetoes bill every time • Why?

41. Election of 1928 • Coolidge – chooses not to run for reelection • Republicans - choose Herbert Hoover • Democrats – choose Alfred E. Smith • Problem: He’s a Catholic • The Pope will rule the U.S.! • America was still prosperous… • And Americans stayed with the Republican ticket

42. Chapter 22.4 The Jazz Age

43. The Roaring Twenties • Time of radical social transformation • Industry – pumping out products • Ideas – questioning the ideas and ways from before • Arts – Loosening of standards, blossoming of creativity • Daily Life – new ways to spend your time • Welcome to the Roaring Twenties!

44. Automobiles • They began to mass produced • Normal to see them, paved roads for them… • And Americans could AFFORD them! • Impact – Americans could now live, work, and play at greater distances • Wow – first shopping center built in Kansas City in 1922 • http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?video_id=S4KrIMZpwCY

45. Movies • Nickelodeons – for a nickle, you watched moving pictures for a few minutes • Now, movies are all the rage! • Pop. = 125 million • Tickets sold per week = 100 million • Talkies – movies without sound • Stars = Greta Garbo , Lillian Gish, Charlie Chaplin • Major way to spend your new free time!

46. Radio • Before the 1920’s – few Americans owned radio’s • Handmade, • Used for 2-way communication • Frank Conrad – engineer for Westinghouse, sends music and baseball scores over the radio • Leads to regular broadcasts – Americans buy in record numbers • NBC – creates the first network by joining stations together

47. Jazz Music • Started as ragtime and blues (from NOLA and Memphis) • Improvised, syncopation – sign of the times • Hugely popular in the 1920’s • Radio’s spread its popularity • Some people against it • Harlem, NY – center of jazz, with mixed jazz clubs

48. Let’s Listen to Some Jazz…

49. Health and Education • The nation, as a whole, was healthier and living longer – let’s celebrate! • Diseases were coming under control • Measles • Tetanus • Diptheria • More people were educated • Free through high school • Movement to the cities = better literacy

50. What a Crazy Time… • Flappers – new type of women • Bootleggers and speakeasies • New social acceptance of women • Working • Smoking • Drinking • Jazz Music • Jazz Spirit – in other art forms • National Heroes • Sporting Events = big business