The Republican The Republican YearsYears

1921-19321921-1932

Influences of

End of WWIRed Scare Black Scare

Labor StrikesProhibition

Woman’s Suffrage

Decade of Prosperity

• Consumerism- “Consumer Society”– What we want more than what we need”– Impact on daily life-

telephone / household appliances

• Installment Plan

• Advertising / Marketing

Leisure activities

–Vacations

–Movies

»Popularity of silent films

»Hollywood's rising dominance of global film industry

–Sporting events

–Radio and phonograph

–Celebrity culture

New Values

–Growing acceptance of consumer debt

–Shifting ideas of purpose and value of work

Limits of prosperity 1. Unequal distribution of wealth, income

2. Ongoing concentration of industry

3. Scale of poverty, unemployment

4. Deindustrialization in the North

5. Rural depression

a. Passing of wartime "golden age" for agriculture

b. Drop in farm incomes, rise in foreclosures

c. Decline in number of farms and farmers

d. Rural outmigration

Harding received Harding received 61% of the 61% of the national vote and national vote and 404 electoral 404 electoral votes. votes.

Cox received Cox received 35% of the 35% of the national vote and national vote and 127 electoral 127 electoral votes.votes.

Eugene V. Debs, Eugene V. Debs, campaigning campaigning from Federal from Federal prison, received prison, received 3% of the 3% of the national vote.national vote.

“Return to Normalcy “ the Harding Years (1921-23)

• Looked Like a President

• A. Not the brightest

• B. Big business- tax cuts, higher tariffs, aid to farmers “less government in business and more business in government,” suppress strikes, reduce national debt – slash spending

• C. Economic growth – Fordney-McCumber Tariff on imports

• D. Reduce taxes on wealthy

• E. American Plan– Open shop– Workplace free of both government

regulations and unions

The Ohio Gang

Attorney General Harry Daugherty

“Veterans Bureau” Charles Forbes

“Alien Property Custodian” Thomas Miller

“Secretary of Interior”

Albert Fall– Teapot Dome

Scandal

Calvin Calvin CoolidgeCoolidge

“Keep Cool with Coolidge”

Calvin Coolidge (1923-1928)

• A. Political Experience– “Silent Cal”

• B. Free Enterprise – “The business of America is business”

• C. Farm Problems– 1. Higher Production– 2. McNary-Haugen Bill – vetoed

“Keeping Cool with Coolidge”

“Keep Cool with Coolidge”

•D. Accomplishments–Washington Naval Arms

Conference–Balanced the budget

•(Mellon, Sec of Treasury)

–Reduced the debt–Lowered income-tax rates(esp.

rich)–Construction of national highway

system

“A Chicken in every Pot”

• Herbert Hoover (1928-1932)

• A. Big Business

• B. to be continued...