The Roaring 20s

1. The Roaring 20s Unit Overview

2. Organizing Principle • The “Roaring Twenties” were an oddity in a sense as they were ushered in on Warren G. Harding’s campaign slogan, “a return to normalcy.” On one hand, this decade is largely marked by isolationism and a McKinley style conservatism in the political realm. On the other hand, this period of introversion displays a radical cultural shift in the American identity that challenged rural American traditions. In this sense, the decade of the 1920s was largely a departure from normalcy.

3. The Red Scare • Origins—“nativism” and isolationism • Exporting the Bolshevik revolution • Immigration • American Communist Party (tiny) • Instances • The Palmer Raids • Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer • Believed • 6,000 people arrested—bombs galore • Buford-Red Ark • Labor crushed • “commie!” • Sacco and Vanzetti • Italian anarchists

4. Ku Klux Klan • Second manifestation • Discrimination against: foreigners, Catholics, blacks, Jews, pacifists, communists, bootleggers, evolutionists, gambling, adultery, et cetera… • Demographics • WASPs—fundamentalists • Midwest and Bible Belt • Tactics • Burning crosses and violence • Downfall • Corruption • Violence

6. Stemming the Foreign Flood • 1920-1921: 800,000 immigrants arrived • Lazarus taken literally • Emergency Quota Act (1921) • 3% of 1910 census from national origins • Immigration Act (1924) • 2% of 1890 census • Discriminates against southern and eastern Europe • U.S. repeals Gentlemen’s Agreement • No restrictions on Western Hemisphere • Canada, Mexico, and Latin America

7. Quota System

8. Labor Unrest • Labor during WWI • Strikes were illegal • Strike! Strike! Strike! • 1919—over 3,000 strikes • Labor movement painted red • Boston Police Strike • Crushed by MA governor • Calvin Coolidge • Steel Mill Strike • Crushed with violence • Coal Miner’s Strike • John L. Lewis—success! • 27% pay increase • Labor loses appeal in the 20s

9. The Ascent of Harding • Harding’s character • Plus—friendly, statesmen looking • Minus—mediocre in ideas, couldn’t say no • Cabinet • The “Ohio Gang” • Harding’s poker playing cronies • Best and Worst Minds

10. Splendid Isolation • Geneva Health Convention • “unofficial observers” • Middle East • “black gold”—exploited by American companies • Washington Naval Conference (1921-22) • Wealthy don’t want to finance navy • Naval disarmament—10 year “holiday” • 5:5:3 • Proceed with caution • Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) • Outlaws war as a policy*

11. Economics of the 20s • Andrew Mellon: Treasury Secretary • Tax policies encourage capital investment • Increased productivity • Machines and energy • Markets • Advertisements • Need/Want confusion? • Buying on credit • Installment plan • Superficial prosperity

12. Tariffs • Republicans favor big business • Fordney-McCumber Tariff (1922) • Raises tax to 38.5% • Tariff Commission empowers president • 32 upward changes • Results • European war debts • Britain and France cannot repay debts • Dawes Plan—loans to Germany • Retaliatory tariffs • Exacerbated the international economic crisis

13. Harding Harangued • Scandals • Charles R. Forbes—Veteran’s Bureau • Steals $200,000,000 from hospital construction funds • 2 years in jail • Teapot Dome Scandal • Albert B. Fall—SOI—transfers oil rich lands to the Interior Dept. • Fall illegally leases land for bribes ($400,000) • Illegal sale of pardons and liquor permits • Harding’s death prevents full investigation

15. “Silent Cal” • Conservative New Englander • Famed for breaking up a Boston Police Strike • Supports big business • Supports Mellon’s tax cuts • Mid-Twenties boom • 5 ½ years of prosperity “After all, the chief business of the American people is business.”