america in the 1920s. political leaders election of 1920 democrat james cox

America in the 1920s

Political Leaders

Election of 1920

Democrat James Cox

Political Leaders

Election of 1920

Democrat James Cox

Republican Warren Harding

Political Leaders

Election of 1920

Democrat James Cox

Republican Warren Harding

Eugene V. Debs

Political Leaders• Victory for a

“return to normalcy”

Political Leaders• Victory for a

“return to normalcy”

• Landslide for Harding

Political Leaders• Victory for a

“return to normalcy”

• Landslide for Harding

• Return to a more pro-business Republican Party

Political Leaders--Harding’s Presidency

Appointments:

Political Leaders--Harding’s Presidency

Appointments:• Charles Evans Hughes

as Sec. of State

Political Leaders--Harding’s Presidency

Appointments:• Charles Evans Hughes

as Sec. of State• Andrew Mellon Sec. of

Treasury

Political Leaders--Harding’s Presidency

Appointments:• Charles Evans Hughes

as Sec. of State• Andrew Mellon Sec. of

Treasury• Herbert Hoover Sec. of

Commerce

Political Leaders--Harding’s Presidency

Appointments:• Charles Evans Hughes

as Sec. of State• Andrew Mellon Sec. of

Treasury• Herbert Hoover Sec. of

Commerce• Wm. Howard Taft Chief

Justice of Supreme Court

Political Leaders--Harding’s Presidency

Legislation:

Legislation:• reductions in income

tax

Political Leaders--Harding’s Presidency

Political Leaders--Harding’s Presidency

Legislation:• reductions in income

tax• Increase in tariffs

(Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act of 1922)

Tariff rates through various legislation

Ave. Duty on All Imports

Ave. Duty on Dutiable Imports

Payne-Aldrich Tariff 1909

19.3% 40.8%

Underwood-Simmons Tariff 1913

9.1% 27%

Fordney-McCumber Tariff 1922

14% 38.5%

Political Leaders--Harding’s Presidency

Legislation:• reductions in income

tax• Increase in tariffs

(Fordney-McCumber Tariff Act of 1922)

• Establishment of Bureau of the Budget

(now OMB)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb

Political Leaders--Harding’s Presidency

Teapot Dome Scandal

Oil lands leased to companies at low rates

Sec. of Interior Albert Fall convicted of taking

bribes

Political Leaders--Harding’s Presidency

Death

Died while traveling in the West

(August 1923)

Succeeded in office by VP Calvin Coolidge

Political Leaders--Coolidge’s Presidency

Believed in very limited government—took almost no action

Political Leaders--Coolidge’s Presidency

Believed in very limited government—took almost no action

“The business of America is business”

Political Leaders--Coolidge’s Presidency

Believed in very limited government—took almost no action

“The business of America is business”

Strictly watched the budget—vetoed WWI Veterans bonuses

Political Leaders--Coolidge’s Presidency

Believed in very limited government—took almost no action

“The business of America is business”

Strictly watched the budget—vetoed WWI Veterans bonuses

Won election in 1924

Political Leaders--Coolidge’s Presidency

Believed in very limited government—took almost no action

“The business of America is business”

Strictly watched the budget—vetoed WWI Veterans bonuses

Won election in 19241928— “I do not choose to

run”

Economy of 1920s

Economy of 1920s

• Recession in 1920-21

Economy of 1920s

• Recession in 1920-21

• Boom from 1922-28 (farmers did not benefit,

and 40% of American families lived in poverty)

Economy of 1920s

• Recession in 1920-21

• Boom from 1922-28 (farmers did not benefit,

and 40% of American families lived in poverty)

• Huge crash 1929

Economy of 1920s

Causes of Prosperity

Economy of 1920s

Causes of Prosperity

• Increased productivity

Economy of 1920s

Causes of Prosperity

• Increased productivity

• Energy technologies

Economy of 1920s

Causes of Prosperity

• Increased productivity

• Energy technologies

• Government policies

Consumer Culture

Music—The Jazz Age

Consumer Culture

Music—The Jazz Age

Electricity—appliances

Percentage of American Families OwningVarious Appliances, 1920 and 1930

60%26%Automobiles

40%<1%Radios

30%9%Vacuum cleaners

24%8%Washing machines

8%<1%Mechanical refrigerators

68%35%Home lighting with electricity

42%1%Central heating

51%20%Inside flush toilets

19301920

W: 472

Consumer Culture

Music—The Jazz Age

Electricity—appliances

Automobile

Consumer Culture

Music—The Jazz Age

Electricity—appliances

Automobile

Entertainment—radio, movies

Popular Culture

Radio Programs

Popular Culture

Radio ProgramsCreation of networks

Popular Culture

Radio ProgramsCreation of networks--NBC (1924)--CBS (1927)

Popular Culture

Radio ProgramsCreation of networks--NBC (1924)--CBS (1927)

Movies

Popular Culture

Radio ProgramsCreation of networks--NBC (1924)--CBS (1927)

Movies--Centered in Hollywood

Popular Culture

Radio ProgramsCreation of networks--NBC (1924)--CBS (1927)

Movies--Centered in Hollywood--Silent films

Rudolph Valentino, Silent Film Star

Popular Culture

Radio ProgramsCreation of networks--NBC (1924)--CBS (1927)

Movies--Centered in Hollywood--Silent films-- “Talkies” (1927)

Popular Culture

Other icons:

Popular Culture

Other icons:

Jack Dempsey

Popular Culture

Other icons:

Jack DempseyJim Thorpe

Popular Culture

Other icons:

Jack DempseyJim ThorpeBabe Ruth

Popular Culture

Other icons:

Jack DempseyJim ThorpeBabe RuthBobby Jones

Popular Culture

Other icons:

Jack DempseyJim ThorpeBabe RuthBobby JonesCharles Lindbergh

Daily Life

Women--The vote did not change

life much for women.

Daily Life

Women--The vote did not change

life much for women.--The 1920s saw no

increase in women in the workforce.

Daily Life

Women--The vote did not change

life much for women.--The 1920s saw no

increase in women in the workforce.

--Divorce laws were liberalized. Divorce: 1 in 8 (1920); 1 in 6 (1930).

Daily Life

Revolution in Morals

--Influence of Freud

Daily Life

Revolution in Morals

--Influence of Freud--More available birth

control

Daily Life

Revolution in Morals

--Influence of Freud--More available birth

control--Flappers: knee-length

dresses, bobbed hair, cigarettes, driving.

Literary Culture

Lost Generation of Writers--disillusioned by the war

and materialism

Given that name by writerGertrude Stein

Literary Culture

Lost Generation of Writers--disillusioned by the war

and materialism• F. Scott Fitzgerald

--The Great Gatsby --Short stories for

Saturday Evening Post (Bernice Bobs Her Hair)

Literary Culture

Lost Generation of Writers--disillusioned by the war

and materialism• F. Scott Fitzgerald• Ernest Hemingway– The Old Man and the Sea– A Farewell to Arms– The Sun Also Rises– For Whom the Bell Tolls

Won Nobel Prize for Literature 1954

Literary Culture

Lost Generation of Writers--disillusioned by the war

and materialism• F. Scott Fitzgerald• Ernest Hemingway• Sinclair Lewis --Babbitt

--Main Street--Elmer Gantry

Won Nobel Prize 1930

Literary Culture

Lost Generation of Writers--disillusioned by the war

and materialism• F. Scott Fitzgerald• Ernest Hemingway• Sinclair Lewis• T.S. Eliot– The Wasteland– Old Possum’s Book of

Practical CatsWon Nobel Prize for Literature--1949

Literary Culture

Lost Generation of Writers--disillusioned by the war and

materialism• F. Scott Fitzgerald• Ernest Hemingway• Sinclair Lewis• T.S. Eliot• Eugene O’Neill– Long Day’s Journey Into Night(written 1941, Pulitzer 1957) Won the Nobel Prize for Literature 1936

African-American Culture

Harlem Renaissance--200,000 African-American residents--many talented writers, artists and musicians

African-American Culture

Harlem Renaissance--200,000 African-American residents--many talented writers, artists and musicians

Langston Hughes, poet

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.They send me to eat in the kitchenWhen company comes,But I laugh,And eat well,And grow strong.

Tomorrow,I'll be at the tableWhen company comes.Nobody'll dareSay to me,"Eat in the kitchen," Then.

Besides,They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed -

I, too, am America.

African-American Culture

Harlem Renaissance--200,000 African-American residents--many talented writers, artists and musicians

Zora Neale Hurston, novelist

Their Eyes Were Watching God

African-American Culture

Harlem Renaissance--200,000 African-American residents--many talented writers, artists and musicians

Jacob Lawrence, visual artistThe Migration of the Negro

African-American Culture

Harlem Renaissance--200,000 African-American residents--many talented writers, artists and musicians

Apollo Theater, Harlem

African-American Culture

Harlem Renaissance--200,000 African-American residents--many talented writers, artists and musicians

Billie Holiday

African-American Culture

Harlem Renaissance--200,000 African-American residents--many talented writers, artists and musicians

Bessie SmithHighest paid black artist of the

1920s

African-American Culture

Harlem Renaissance--200,000 African-American residents--many talented writers, artists and musicians

Duke Ellington

African-American Culture

Harlem Renaissance--200,000 African-American residents--many talented writers, artists and musicians

Louis Armstrong

African-American Culture

Harlem Renaissance--200,000 African-American residents--many talented writers, artists and musicians

Other big names:

Countee CullenPaul Robeson

James Weldon JohnsonA. Philip Randolph

Walter White

African-American Culture

Marcus Garvey• United Negro

Improvement Association, 1914 (UNIA)

• Back to Africa movement

• Black Star Steamship line fraud, deportation

• Legacy

PROHIBITION

PROHIBITION Made it illegal to make,

distribute, sell, transport or consume liquor.

Volstead Act created the laws to enforce it

Prohibition lasted from 1920 to 1933 when it was repealed

by the 21st Amendment

SUPPORT FOR PROHIBITION

Reformers had long believed alcohol led to crime, child & wife abuse, and accidents

Supporters were largely from the rural south and west

Poster supporting prohibition

SPEAKEASIES AND BOOTLEGGERS Disagreement on sin of

drinking Immigrants opposed Speakeasies (illegal

bars) Bootleggers (illegal

importers)

All of these activities became closely affiliated with …

ORGANIZED CRIME Prohibition contributed to the

growth of organized crime in every major city

Al Capone – Chicago, Illinois famous bootlegger “Scarface” $60 million/year (bootleg alone)

Capone took control of the Chicago liquor business by killing off his competition Talent for avoiding jail 1931 sent to prison for tax-evasion.Al Capone was finally convicted

on tax evasion charges in 1931

Racketeering

• Illegal business scheme to make profit.– Gangsters bribed police or government officials.– Forced local businesses a fee for “protection”.• No fee - gunned down or businesses blown to bits

Bureau of Investigation later becomes FBI,

Begins fighting organized crime

J. Edgar Hoover, founder (1935)

Director until 1972

St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

• Valentines Day – February 14, 1929

• Rival between Al Capone and Bugs Moran– Capone – South Side Italian

gang– Moran – North Side Irish gang

• Bloody murder of 7 of Moran’s men.– Capone’s men dressed as

cops

GOVERNMENT FAILS TO CONTROL LIQUOR

Prohibition failed: Why? Government did not

budget enough money to enforce the law

The task of enforcing Prohibition fell to 1,500 poorly paid federal agents --- clearly an impossible task!

Federal agents pour wine down a sewer

SUPPORT FADES, PROHIBITION REPEALED

• By the mid-1920s, only 19% of Americans supported Prohibition

• Many felt Prohibition caused more problems than it solved

• The 21st Amendment finally repealed Prohibition in 1933

Prejudice and Nativism• KKK—Reorganized in 1915

• Now opposed to blacks, Catholics, Jews, immigrants

• By 1922 four million members

• “Christian” standards of morality

• Grand Dragon convicted of murder in 1925

Prejudice and Nativism

Palmer Raids—Suspected Communists (1919), continued to arrest 6000

Prejudice and Nativism

Palmer Raids—Suspected Communists (1919), continued to arrest 6000

Case of Niccolo Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti

--1921 Convicted of robberty & murder

--anarchists, poor Italians--trial called unfair--executed in 1927

Important Events of the 1920s

Scopes “Monkey” Trial

Background:• Fundamentalists’

opposition to Darwin• Laws against teaching

evolution in public schools

• Southern statesJohn Scopes, teacher

Important Events of the 1920sScopes “Monkey” Trial• John Scopes, teacher• ACLU behind him to test

constitutionality• 1925• Broadcast nationally• Bryan bested by

Darrow’s questioning• Scopes loses,

overturned on a technicality later

William Jennings Bryan for the Prosecution

Clarence Darrow for the Defense

“The Trial of the

Century”

Political Cartoon

June 1925 New Yorker Magazine

Important Events of the 1920s

Inventions/Discoveries

Liquid Fuel Rocket--1926

Antiobiotics—1928 (Fleming)

Television, aerosols, hearing aid, iron lung

International Relations

• 1921 Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes arranges disarmament talks –successful

• Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 promoted peace (Addams—Nobel prize)Ineffective

• Dawes Plan, 1924—War debts repayment

Election of 1928

Republican: Herbert Hoover“A chicken in every pot, a

car in every garage”

Democrat: Alfred SmithCatholic, opposed to

Prohibition

Hoover wins in a landslide, largely due to prejudice against his Catholic opponent.

Leading up to the Crash

• Consumer credit• Stocks rising• Buying on “margin”• Foreign countries still

owe war debt• Farm prices fell• All debtors begin to

default