1917-1933 Flashcards
Why did Americans want a return to normalcy? (4)
- People tired of foreign affairs, isolationism
- 5 million were drafted in WW1, for a war that not all believed
- Many Americans paid taxes for the first time under Wilson
- During Wilson, federal government intervention was unprecedented
- Legislation such as the Sedition Act (1918), fed gov able to silence opponents
What kind of victory did Harding have? (2)
Largest landslide victory in Republican history, increased Republican majorities in House and Senate much to his coattails
What was the appeal of Harding?
- Personable, photogenic and looked presidential
- Told voters what they wanted to hear
What did Presidency of Harding do?(3)
- Restored sense of calm and confidence
- Lowered federal government expenditure
- Teapot Dome Scandal
What was the Teapot Dome scandal?
Several of his appointees partook in corrupt activities
Coolidge and the economy(3)
- Promoted tax cuts
- Decreased the national debt
- Kept annual government expenditure at $3billion
- Laissez-faire
Key concepts of rugged individualism (3)
- People were weakened by government support because it sapped their self-reliance
- USA should isolate itself from other countries
- USA should restrict immigration
Effects of the Wall Street Crash (3)
- Unemployment soared
- increased homelessness
- Banks and businesses failed
Example of volunteerism
1931- National Credit Cooperation (NCC), funded by healthy banks and businesses to help failing ones.
-Started with a budget of $500 million, by the end of the year, they had lent just $10 million
Example of Hoover government intervention
1932- Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), set up with $300 million to lend to states for relief projects
Hoovers leadership being limited (3)
- Handled Congress badly
- failed to stop the enactment of the protectionist Smoot-Hawley tariff legislation (many believe that exacerbated the Great Depression)
- Unable to cope with economic problems
When was the Bonus March + details
1932- 40,00 veterans arrived in Washington to support immediate payment of the bonus
Appeal of FDR
FDR was handsome, optimistic, confident and a god speaker.
Said what the electorate wanted to hear
Reasons for a commitment to isolationism (2/3)
- Traditional American suspicion of ‘entangling alliances’
- Many wanted to focus on domestic problems, the Depression etc.
- American became increasingly irritated by European reluctance to repay wartime debts owned to the United States
What effect did WW1 have on domestic politics (6)
- led to unpopular federal government intervention
- Republican ascendancy
- demand for a ‘return to normalcy’
- introduction of prohibition
- Red Scare
- debate over the extent of isolationism
