The Politics of the The Politics of the 1920’s1920’s

The Harding AdministrationThe Harding Administration

Chapter 17 Section 1Chapter 17 Section 1

The 1920’sThe 1920’s

AKA the Jazz Age, the Age of Intolerance, AKA the Jazz Age, the Age of Intolerance, and the Age of Wonderful Nonsenseand the Age of Wonderful Nonsense

The new decade would be a time of The new decade would be a time of change for everyone — not all of it good.change for everyone — not all of it good.

The close of World War I saw the United The close of World War I saw the United States recede into an inward-looking States recede into an inward-looking stance.stance.

U.S. raised tariffs on imported goods, U.S. raised tariffs on imported goods, and free immigration came to an end.and free immigration came to an end.

Harding Harding Political Philosophy: Political Philosophy:

“a return to “a return to normalcynormalcy” or ” or “normal” life after “normal” life after the war. the war.

He was charming He was charming and easy-going and easy-going

conservative, conservative, laissez-faire laissez-faire attitudeattitude

Distinguished Distinguished AppointmentsAppointments

Charles Evans HughesCharles Evans Hughes: supreme : supreme court justice to secretary of state court justice to secretary of state (concerned with foreign affairs) (concerned with foreign affairs)

Herbert HooverHerbert Hoover: food administration : food administration to secretary of commerce to secretary of commerce (concerned with business and (concerned with business and industry)industry)

Andrew MellonAndrew Mellon: business man to : business man to secretary of the treasury (concerned secretary of the treasury (concerned with finance and money)with finance and money)

Disastrous AppointmentDisastrous Appointment High level jobs to friends High level jobs to friends Harding more comfortable around his Harding more comfortable around his

“old poker-playing friends”, the Ohio “old poker-playing friends”, the Ohio GangGang

Spent a lot of time drinking, smoking, Spent a lot of time drinking, smoking, & playing poker (page 591, quote)& playing poker (page 591, quote)

Used their positions to sell government Used their positions to sell government jobs, pardons, and protectionjobs, pardons, and protection

Harding passed away before many of Harding passed away before many of the Scandals were unveiled. the Scandals were unveiled.

1. Forbes Scandal1. Forbes Scandal

Colonel Charles R. Forbes (head of Colonel Charles R. Forbes (head of the Veterans Bureau)the Veterans Bureau)

Sold hard to find medical supplies Sold hard to find medical supplies from the Veterans'’ hospitals and from the Veterans'’ hospitals and kept the $$$ for himselfkept the $$$ for himself

2. Teapot Dome Scandal2. Teapot Dome Scandal Albert B. Fall (Secretary Albert B. Fall (Secretary

of the Interior) of the Interior) Secretly allowed private Secretly allowed private

interests to rent the interests to rent the lands containing US lands containing US Navy oil reserves. Navy oil reserves.

In return, Fall received In return, Fall received kickbacks ($300,000)kickbacks ($300,000)

Investigation lead to Investigation lead to the Supreme Court the Supreme Court which lead to 1which lead to 1stst cabinet cabinet member to go to prison. member to go to prison.

3. Daugherty Scandal3. Daugherty Scandal

Harry M. Daugherty, Attorney GeneralHarry M. Daugherty, Attorney General German owned companies in the US German owned companies in the US

seized during WWI seized during WWI German agents bribed politicians to German agents bribed politicians to

seize back controlseize back control Bribes ended up in Daugherty’s bank Bribes ended up in Daugherty’s bank

accountaccount Refused to testify under oath Refused to testify under oath

“Silent Cal” Calvin Coolidge-Republican Vice President

sworn in August of 1923, elected in 1924 for one term.

Laissez-faire, pro-business, not concerned about farmers

Could be “silent in five different languages”.

Policies of Prosperity “The chief business of the American people is

business.”- Calvin Coolidge Andrew Mellon becomes Sec. of Treasury and

will be for 3 presidents. Mellon wanted to reduce the budget, reduce

gov’t debt, and cut taxes. Supply-side economics-if taxes are less,

Americans would take the extra cash and spend it or re-invest it into the economy.

We call this “trickle-down” economics today. This economy will boom during the “Roaring

’20s” but will come back to haunt us in the 1930s.

Foreign Policy Under Sec. of State Charles Evan Hughes,

American tried to use economic power to promote peace and stability.

1.Dawes Plan-try to help Germany repay its reparations or war payments. Why would this be important to the US?

2.Washington Naval Conference -Tried disarmament of navies in five countries.

3.Kellogg-Briand Pact- in Aug. of 1928, 14 countries agreed to abandon war and settle disputes peacefully. Not binding or official.

The Jazz AgeThe Jazz Age

Society in the 1920sSociety in the 1920s

Mass Media in the Jazz Mass Media in the Jazz AgeAge

Cultural ConflictsCultural Conflicts

Henry FordHenry Ford

Assembly Line and Mass Production

Model TModel T

Lower prices and more production in the long run will lead to more prophet.

Cultural Conflicts in the Cultural Conflicts in the 1920s1920s

PROHIBITIONPROHIBITION The 18The 18thth

Amendment to the Amendment to the ConstitutionConstitution

Made Made manufacturing of manufacturing of alcohol illegal.alcohol illegal.

Most people chose Most people chose to ignore it.to ignore it.

Goals of ProhibitionGoals of Prohibition

Eliminate Eliminate drunkennessdrunkenness Causing abuse of Causing abuse of

family family Get rid of saloonsGet rid of saloons

Prostitution, gambling Prostitution, gambling densdens

Prevent absenteeism Prevent absenteeism and on-the-job and on-the-job accidents stemming accidents stemming from drunkennessfrom drunkenness

How Effective was How Effective was Prohibition?Prohibition?

They drank in the They drank in the White HouseWhite House

1924 1924 –– Kansas had Kansas had 95% of people obeying 95% of people obeying the law not to drink.the law not to drink.

Only 5% of New Only 5% of New Yorkers obeyed the Yorkers obeyed the law.law. Contrast between rural Contrast between rural

and urban moral values.and urban moral values.

BootleggingBootlegging

Those that would Those that would manufacture, sell manufacture, sell and transport and transport liquor, beer, and liquor, beer, and wine. wine.

Started from Started from drinkers who hid drinkers who hid flasks in the leg of flasks in the leg of their boots.their boots.

BootleggersBootleggers Canadians were Canadians were

making whiskey.making whiskey. Caribbean was Caribbean was

making rum.making rum. Smugglers took ships Smugglers took ships

out to sea, met speed out to sea, met speed boats who outran the boats who outran the Coast Guard to Coast Guard to harbors where they harbors where they transported the transported the alcohol to alcohol to warehouses.warehouses.

SpeakeasiesSpeakeasies Bars that operated Bars that operated

illegally. illegally. To get into a To get into a

speakeasy speakeasy –– you you needed a password needed a password or be recognized or be recognized by a guard.by a guard.

Sometimes hidden Sometimes hidden behind legit behind legit businesses.businesses.

SpeakeasiesSpeakeasies

Before Prohibition Before Prohibition the whole state of the whole state of Massachusetts Massachusetts had 1,000 saloons.had 1,000 saloons.

AFTER Prohibition AFTER Prohibition Boston alone had Boston alone had 4,000 speakeasies 4,000 speakeasies and 15,000 and 15,000 bootleggers.bootleggers.

Organized CrimeOrganized Crime

Early in Early in Prohibition Prohibition –– there there was competition was competition between gangs to between gangs to supply liquor to supply liquor to speakeasies.speakeasies.

Organized CrimeOrganized Crime

Territories Territories expanded and expanded and gang warfare gang warfare erupted over turf erupted over turf and control of the and control of the liquor.liquor. Tommy Guns Tommy Guns Sawed off shotgunsSawed off shotguns Murder on the Murder on the

streetsstreets

Al CaponeAl Capone

The most famous The most famous and brutal and brutal gangsters were in gangsters were in Chicago.Chicago.

Racketeering was Racketeering was EVERYWHEREEVERYWHERE Chicago and his Chicago and his

suburb of Cicerosuburb of Cicero

Alfonse Alfonse ““ScarfaceScarface”” Capone Capone

1899-19471899-1947 Born in NYC to Born in NYC to

Sicilian Sicilian immigrants.immigrants.

Dropped out of Dropped out of school at 14.school at 14.

Nasty fighter Nasty fighter reputation.reputation.

Moved to Chicago Moved to Chicago in 1919.in 1919.

Al CaponeAl Capone

200 murders are 200 murders are directly tied to directly tied to Capone.Capone.

St. ValentineSt. Valentine’’s Day s Day Massacre was also Massacre was also his work.his work.

With Prohibition, he With Prohibition, he made $100,000,000, made $100,000,000, but he purchased but he purchased this modest house this modest house (on left)(on left)

Al CaponeAl Capone

For all his murders For all his murders and assaults, he and assaults, he was eventually was eventually imprisoned for not imprisoned for not paying taxes.paying taxes.

Ended up at Ended up at Alcatraz Prison.Alcatraz Prison.

Released early and Released early and died of syphilisdied of syphilis

SPORTS HEROES OF THE SPORTS HEROES OF THE 1920s1920s

Radio, newsreels, Radio, newsreels, and more sports and more sports reporting made reporting made sports BIG sports BIG business.business.

Jack Dempsey Jack Dempsey 1921 1921 –– world world heavyweight heavyweight champion boxer.champion boxer.

Sports Heroes of the Sports Heroes of the 1920s1920s

Jim ThorpeJim Thorpe Won gold medals Won gold medals

in the Olympics in in the Olympics in the decathlon and the decathlon and the pentathlon.the pentathlon.

Played professional Played professional baseballbaseball

Played professional Played professional footballfootball

First president of First president of the NFLthe NFL

The Sultan of SwatThe Sultan of Swat

George Herman George Herman ““BabeBabe”” Ruth Ruth

Between playing Between playing for the Yanks and for the Yanks and the Sox the Sox –– 714 714 homeruns.homeruns.

Unbroken record Unbroken record for 40 years. for 40 years.

Female AthletesFemale Athletes

Gertrude Ederle Gertrude Ederle –– Olympic swimmer Olympic swimmer 1924.1924.

First woman to First woman to swim the 35 miles swim the 35 miles of the English of the English ChannelChannel Beat the menBeat the men’’s s

record by 2 hours.record by 2 hours.

African Americans Move African Americans Move NorthNorth

1865: 93% of African 1865: 93% of African Americans lived in Americans lived in the South.the South.

1930: 80%1930: 80% BUTBUT

Jobs werenJobs weren’’t much t much better in the Northbetter in the North

Racial hatred in NorthRacial hatred in North Women often worked Women often worked

as low-paid as low-paid domestics.domestics.

The Garvey MovementThe Garvey Movement

Some African Some African Americans Americans frustrated by frustrated by violence and violence and discrimination discrimination dreamed of a new dreamed of a new homeland.homeland.

The Marcus Garvey The Marcus Garvey MovementMovement

Banks and business Banks and business investment for just investment for just African Americans.African Americans.

Urged a return to Urged a return to ““Motherland AfricaMotherland Africa”” to create a new to create a new country. country.

Started Started ““Black PrideBlack Pride”” from prison and after from prison and after he was deported to he was deported to Jamaica.Jamaica.

W.E.B. DuboisW.E.B. Dubois

DidnDidn’’t think the t think the answer was answer was separation of the separation of the races. races.

Also didnAlso didn’’t approve t approve of Garveyof Garvey’’s s business practices.business practices.

Equality through Equality through cultureculture

Harlem RenaissanceHarlem Renaissance

1914: 50,000 1914: 50,000 African Americans African Americans in Harlem.in Harlem.

1930: 200,0001930: 200,000 Home to many Home to many

clubs, theaters clubs, theaters and performing and performing hallshalls

Heroes of JazzHeroes of Jazz

Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong (1901 (1901 –– 1974) 1974)

““SatchmoSatchmo”” and and ““The GiftThe Gift””

New Orleans to New Orleans to Chicago to the Chicago to the world.world.

Trumpet and Trumpet and singing singing ““scatscat””

Jazz HeroesJazz Heroes

““DukeDuke”” Ellington Ellington 17 years old 17 years old ––

played jazz in clubs played jazz in clubs in Washington DC in Washington DC at night and at night and painted signs in the painted signs in the day. day.

Wrote thousands of Wrote thousands of songs and had his songs and had his own band.own band.

The Jazz AgeThe Jazz Age

The radio The radio audience and the audience and the African American African American migration to the migration to the cities made jazz cities made jazz popular. popular. Improvisation of Improvisation of

musicmusic Syncopation Syncopation ––

offbeat rhythm.offbeat rhythm.

The Jazz AgeThe Jazz Age

The 1920s were a The 1920s were a time of rapid time of rapid social change in social change in which many which many people people –– particularly particularly women women –– adopted adopted new lifestyles and new lifestyles and attitudes.attitudes.

The FlapperThe Flapper

Wore shorter dresses Wore shorter dresses than their mothers. than their mothers. (9-inch hemline for (9-inch hemline for mom)mom)

Short hair and hats Short hair and hats to show off short hair to show off short hair Bobbed hairBobbed hair

Wore make upWore make up Drank and smoked in Drank and smoked in

publicpublic

Women and the VoteWomen and the Vote

1920 1920 –– women were women were allowed to vote.allowed to vote.

Only 35% of the Only 35% of the women eligible to women eligible to vote did vote!vote did vote!

By 1928 145 women By 1928 145 women in state legislatures.in state legislatures. Jeanette Rankin Jeanette Rankin –– first first

woman woman congresswoman.congresswoman.

From MontanaFrom Montana

American HeroesAmerican Heroes

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh Lucky LindyLucky Lindy May 20, 1927: May 20, 1927:

First man to fly First man to fly non-stop New York non-stop New York to Paris.to Paris.

33 33 ½½ hours hours THE SPIRIT OF ST. THE SPIRIT OF ST.

LOUIS LOUIS –– plane plane Won $25,000Won $25,000

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh

1902-19741902-1974 Learned to fly in Learned to fly in

Lincoln, NE!Lincoln, NE! Was even more Was even more

respected for his respected for his modesty about modesty about his fame.his fame.

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh

Made other flights Made other flights surveying and surveying and advising airlines. advising airlines.

Tragedy in his Tragedy in his life.life. Kidnapping and Kidnapping and

murder of his murder of his firstborn son.firstborn son.

Seen as being pro-Seen as being pro-Hitler when WWII Hitler when WWII began. began.

Amelia EarhartAmelia Earhart

1928 1928 –– first woman first woman to cross the Atlantic to cross the Atlantic in a plane.in a plane.

1932 1932 –– first woman first woman to fly solo across to fly solo across the Atlantic.the Atlantic.

First to fly from First to fly from Hawaii to California.Hawaii to California.

Amelia EarhartAmelia Earhart

1937 1937 –– was on a was on a journey to be the journey to be the first to first to circumnavigate circumnavigate the world in a the world in a plane.plane.

Disappeared over Disappeared over the Pacific.the Pacific. MysteryMystery

Glenn CurtissGlenn Curtiss

Invented Invented ailerons to ailerons to change altitude change altitude of aircraft of aircraft

Mass Media and the Jazz Mass Media and the Jazz AgeAge

The founding of The founding of HollywoodHollywood Drew film makers to Drew film makers to

the area in 1900.the area in 1900. Variety of landscapes Variety of landscapes

(mountains, desert, (mountains, desert, ocean)ocean)

Warm climateWarm climate Lighting was betterLighting was better Large work force Large work force

from LA.from LA.

MoviesMovies

Until 1927 movies Until 1927 movies were silent.were silent.

The first sound The first sound film THE JAZZ film THE JAZZ SINGER SINGER –– 1927 1927 Al JolsonAl Jolson Going to the Going to the ““talkiestalkies”” was a was a popular pastime.popular pastime.

Stars of the 1920sStars of the 1920s

Greta GarboGreta Garbo Swedish starSwedish star ““I want to be I want to be

alone.alone.””

Charlie ChaplinCharlie Chaplin The Tramp moviesThe Tramp movies

RadioRadio 1920 Westinghouse 1920 Westinghouse

Electric engineer Electric engineer Frank Conrad put a Frank Conrad put a transmitter in his transmitter in his garage in garage in Pittsburgh. Read Pittsburgh. Read news, played news, played music.music.

KDKA KDKA –– the FIRST the FIRST American radio American radio station.station.

RadioRadio

By 1922 500 radio By 1922 500 radio stations across stations across the country.the country.

National National Broadcasting Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Corporation (NBC) offered radio offered radio stations stations programming.programming.

Newspapers and Newspapers and MagazinesMagazines

Golden Age of Golden Age of newspapers.newspapers.

EVERY town had a EVERY town had a newspaper.newspaper.

The rise of The rise of newspaper chains.newspaper chains. Some owners had Some owners had

monopolies on the monopolies on the news in their news in their states.states.

Evolution and the Scopes Evolution and the Scopes Monkey TrialMonkey Trial

Fundamentalists in Fundamentalists in Tennessee passed a Tennessee passed a law saying that law saying that evolutionary theory evolutionary theory could not be taught in could not be taught in schools. schools. 1925, high school 1925, high school

biology teacher, John biology teacher, John Scopes taught his Scopes taught his students about Charles students about Charles Darwin.Darwin.

Was arrested that day.Was arrested that day.

The Scopes Monkey TrialThe Scopes Monkey Trial

Drama between Drama between two of the best two of the best lawyers in the lawyers in the nationnation Clarence DarrowClarence Darrow William Jennings William Jennings

BryanBryan Mass media allowed Mass media allowed

2 million people to 2 million people to listen to the trial.listen to the trial.

The Scopes Monkey TrialThe Scopes Monkey Trial

Dramatic moment Dramatic moment and never done and never done since.since.

Darrow put Bryan Darrow put Bryan on the stand to on the stand to testify as an testify as an expert on the expert on the Bible.Bible. Showed flaws in Showed flaws in

some of his logicsome of his logic

The Scopes Monkey TrialThe Scopes Monkey Trial Darrow lost the Darrow lost the

case but won the case but won the point with the point with the public. public.

Darrow a defender Darrow a defender of science and of science and reasonreason

Bryan was a martyr Bryan was a martyr for the causefor the cause Died days after the Died days after the

trial ended.trial ended.