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| | Warren Harding was a conservative president who nominated 4 conservative Justices to the Supreme Court, some of whom later invalidated key parts of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)'s New Deal. Harding also supported Prohibition, which was a conservative Christian women's movement. Harding opposed the League of Nations, which was a form of "world government" that conservatives today still dislike. Harding opposed immigration, and with his support of the tightest restrictions on immigration in the nation's history. | | Warren Harding was a conservative president who nominated 4 conservative Justices to the Supreme Court, some of whom later invalidated key parts of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)'s New Deal. Harding also supported Prohibition, which was a conservative Christian women's movement. Harding opposed the League of Nations, which was a form of "world government" that conservatives today still dislike. Harding opposed immigration, and with his support of the tightest restrictions on immigration in the nation's history. |
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| − | The Harding Administration was accused of scandals and corruption, such as the Teapot Dome Scandal<explain> | + | Harding has some immediate achievements. The Federal Highway Act in 1921 provided $75 million to states in matching funds for state roads. The Washington Naval Conference (1921-22) was an international treaty that limited arms in navies worldwide, delayed war in Pacific, and temporarily protected China against Japan. The Fordney McCumber Act of 1922 increased tariffs to very high levels, but this was later criticized by historians for creating hardship for Europe after World War I, which had ended just a few years earlier. |
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| − | Federal Highway Act 1921: provides $75M to states in matching funds for state roads
| + | Most of all, Harding laid the basis for a tremendous economic boom in America which lasted the entire decade of the 1920s. |
| − | Washington Naval Conference "1921-22: limited arms in navies worldwide, delayed war in Pacific, and temporarily protect China against Japan"
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| − | Fordney McCumber Act "1922: increased tariffs to very high levels, creating hardship for Europe after WW I"
| + | But the Harding Administration was accused of scandals and corruption, such as the Teapot Dome Scandal. On April 14, 1922, the Wall Street Journal reported an unprecedented secret arrangement in which the secretary of the Interior, without competitive bidding, had leased the U.S. naval petroleum reserve at Wyoming's Teapot Dome to a private oil company. Wisconsin Republican Senator Robert La Follette (remember this founder of the progressive movement!) arranged for the Senate Committee on Public Lands to investigate the matter. After his announcement, his quarters were mysteriously ransacked in the Senate Office Building! |
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| | + | The focus of the inquiry was this: "How did Interior Secretary Albert Fall get so rich so quickly?" The result was that Fall became the first former cabinet officer to go to prison. The investigation resulted in the landmark 1927 Supreme Court decision of ''McGrain v. Daugherty'' which held, for the first time, that Congress had the right to compel witnesses to testify before its committees. |
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| − | Just as the nation became very prosperous under the conservative president James Monroe, the 1920s (the "Roaring 20s") became a very prosperous time under Harding's initial leadership. But unlike James Monroe, Harding did not live to enjoy it. He died from a health problem while in office, leaving his Vice President (and former Massachusetts Governor) Calvin Coolidge to take over. Coolidge received the news that he was suddenly president at 2:30 am on Aug. 3, 1923. By the light of a kerosene lamp, his father (a notary public) administered the oath of office while Coolidge placed his hand on the family Bible. | + | But the scandal did not detract from the continuing prosperity. Just as the nation became very prosperous under the conservative president James Monroe, the 1920s (the "Roaring 20s") became a very prosperous time under Harding's initial leadership. But unlike James Monroe, Harding did not live to enjoy it. He died from a health problem while in office, leaving his Vice President (and former Massachusetts Governor) Calvin Coolidge to take over. Coolidge received the news that he was suddenly president at 2:30 am on Aug. 3, 1923. By the light of a kerosene lamp, his father (a notary public) administered the oath of office while Coolidge placed his hand on the family Bible. |
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| | Coolidge was a character who became famous for saying and doing nothing. He was neither approve of regulations to control the economic boom, nor agree to funding for farmers to help their depressed conditions. His first message to Congress in late 1923 was to limit aid to farmers, isolate the nation in foreign policy, and cut taxes. His popularity increased and he won reelection with 54% of the vote, taking credit for "Coolidge prosperity." | | Coolidge was a character who became famous for saying and doing nothing. He was neither approve of regulations to control the economic boom, nor agree to funding for farmers to help their depressed conditions. His first message to Congress in late 1923 was to limit aid to farmers, isolate the nation in foreign policy, and cut taxes. His popularity increased and he won reelection with 54% of the vote, taking credit for "Coolidge prosperity." |
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| | The first commercial radio broadcast was in 1920. The "talking" movies came in 1927, with the first successful one being "The Jazz Singer." | | The first commercial radio broadcast was in 1920. The "talking" movies came in 1927, with the first successful one being "The Jazz Singer." |
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| | Sacco and Vanzetti "1920: committed murder during a bank robbery; tried as Italian anarchists, executed in 1927 despite political support" | | Sacco and Vanzetti "1920: committed murder during a bank robbery; tried as Italian anarchists, executed in 1927 despite political support" |
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| | Coolidge's view on strikes "When Mass. governor: ""There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime.""" | | Coolidge's view on strikes "When Mass. governor: ""There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime.""" |
| − | National Origins Act "1924: restricted immigrants from southern and central Europe and Asia, to stop anarchists and Bolsheviks"
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| | Charles Lindbergh "1927: first flight NYC to Paris in ""Spirit of St. Louis""" | | Charles Lindbergh "1927: first flight NYC to Paris in ""Spirit of St. Louis""" |
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| | Great Mississippi Flood "1927: massive river flood displaced 700,000 persons; African Americans migrated from South to northern cities" | | Great Mississippi Flood "1927: massive river flood displaced 700,000 persons; African Americans migrated from South to northern cities" |
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| | Kellogg-Briand Pact (or Treaty) 1928: outlawed war; ineffective because it had no way to be enforced | | Kellogg-Briand Pact (or Treaty) 1928: outlawed war; ineffective because it had no way to be enforced |
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