Elections & Politics of 1920 Flashcards
What was US foreign policy like post-war?
return to isolationism
What action showed US was turning back to a policy of isolationism?
refusal to sign ToV
did not join LoN
Who dominated the Senate post-war?
Republicans
led by Henry Cabot Lodge
What was happening to the progressive movement post war? Why?
petering out
could no longer sustain that all necessary reforms could be supported by all
arguably prosperity created by WWI led to progressivism’s decline
What was notable about the municipal elections of 1917 despite patriotic propaganda?
Socialists made large gains
What gains did Socialists make in 1917 municipal elections?
Candidate for NY mayor received X5 more than in previous election
Chicago party vote X10
What was the prime focus of the 1920 election?
government role at home & isolationism in foreign affairs
Who won the 1920 election?
Harding (Republican)
What majority did Harding win the 1920 election with?
61% (largest victory margin)
what was Harding’s election win based on the promise of
“return to normalcy”
What was Harding’s cabinet derogatorily referred to as
“cabinet of millionaires”
Who did Harding appoint as Secretary of the Treasury
Mellon
Who did Harding appoint as Secretary of Commerce
Hoover
Name one of Harding’s appointments who proved corrupt
Fall
What happened to government expenditure under Harding?
cut government expenditure
What was government expenditure reduction under Harding from 1920 - 1922
$5000mil to $3373million
what did reduced government expenditure allow Mellon to do?
cut taxes
What did Harding introduce which went against the principle of laissez faire?
Federal Aid for Health Programmes
When was the Budget and Accounting Act introduced?
1921
What did the Budget and Accounting Act introduce?
attempts to make federal government efficient
departments to present budgets for approval
What was progressivism?
Chambers “new interventionism”
believed in capitalism and democracy with a moderate need for reform and thus need for government involvement
believed in social welfare being government responsibility
Who took over presidency in 1923 after death of Harding?
Coolidge (Republican)
Where did Coolidge’s values lie?
in small town America - believed in thrift, hard work + low government interference
Who was Coolidge especially popular w?
“middle America”
^ those who want very little government intervention
What was the condition of the democratic party in the 1920s?
hopelessly split
e.g dry / wet , conservatives / progressives
When was Coolidge’s first election?
1924
How many voted for the progressives in 1924?
4.8mil
How many voted for democrats in 1924?
8.3mil
How many voted republican in 1924?
15.7mil
What did Mellon’s economic ideology believe in
high tariffs for protectionism low taxation greatest freedom to spend with government to be friendly w big business fatalist
What act was introduced in 1922 which raised tariffs?
Fordney-McCumber Act
What did the Fordney-McCumber Act mean for Americans?
cheaper for Americans to buy American produced goods
Why did protection boost US economy?
Lack of European goods on the market gave short term boost to economy
What were tax cuts seen as?
a form of encouragement to spend
When were there reductions in federal taxes in the 1920s?
1924, 1926, 1928
What was the highest tax level in 1920?
65%
What was the highest tax level in 1928?
25%
How much did Mellon’s tax reductions save businesses and industry in the 1920s?
$3.6billion
Did Coolidge’s government operate under surplus of deficit?
surplus
What was national debt in 1920?
$24bn
What was national debt in 1930?
$16bn
= Coolidge successfully reduces national debt
What happened under Coolidge / Mellon in terms of regulations for industries / business?
Fewer Regulations
= part of government’s laissez faire, limited intervention
Who was Secretary of State under Hoover?
Charles Hughes
When was the Washington Naval Conference
1921-22
What did the Washington Naval Conference guarantee in terms of navies and level on military intervention
Britain, Japan & US would scrap parts of their navies
suggested 20s would be a period of limited intervention
When was the Kellogg Briand Pact
1927
Why was the K-B Pact significant?
Kellogg & Coolidge make treaty multi-lateral as didn’t want same situation as Wilson was in w/ ToV / LoN
Who was the 1928 election between?
Hoover vs Smith
What was Hoover’s role prior to being Republican Presidential Candidate?
Secretary of Commerce
Who won the 1928 election?
Hoover
In the 1920’s the number of people living in cities increased by what fraction?
1/3
