Return To ‘Normalcy’ Flashcards
How did the value of the Stock market grow from 1925-1929?
1925 = $27 Billion
1929 = $87 Billion
How many share holders were there in the USA by summer 1929?
20 Million
What are three reasons for the Wall Street Crash?
- The banking system
- Over-speculation on the stock market
- Avalibilty of easy credit
What was wrong with the banking system by the end of the 1920?
It was outdated
- Reserve banks favoured bankers (over nation)
- Local banks struggled (not part of centralised system)
- Interest rates kept low to keep market a float
What are four long term problems with the economy in the 1920’s?
- Falling demand for consumer goods
- Instability of the ‘get rich quick’ system
- Problems with Agriculture
- Problems with ‘old’ industries
What % of the US population lived below the poverty line?
42%
What did the population of Florida grow by from 1920-1925?
1920 = 968,000
1925 = 1.2 million
How much did wheat prices fall after WW1?
$2.5 a bushel
$1 a bushel
which ‘old’ industries struggled in the 1920’s?
- Coal
- Textiles
What happened in Florida in 1926?
Hurricane - Killed 400 people and left 50,000 homeless.
Caused thousands to go bankrupt due to investments in ‘Land boom’
What was the problems with Agriculture in the 1920’s?
- Falling prices
- Machenery led to overproduction
- Couldn’t sell abroad due to high tariffs.
- Competitive market (Canada)
Who became President after Wilson?
Warren Harding (1921-23)
Who became President after Harding?
Calvin Coolidge (1923-29)
Who became President after Coolidge?
Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)
Who were the three Presidents in the 1920’s?
- Warren Harding (1921-23)
- Calvin Coolidge (1923-29)
- Herbert Hoover (1929-33)
What were Harding’s Policies?
- Return to ‘Normalcy’
- Little governemnt involment
- Isolationism
What achievements did Harding have?
- Returned to Normalcy - Was popular with the US people
- Made good appointments
- The Sheppard-Towner Maternity Aid Act
- Cut Gov spenidng
- Fordny-McCumber Act (1922)
How much did Hardinf cut government spending from 1920-1922
1920 = $5,000 million
1922 = $3,333
What was the Sheppard-Towner Maternity Aid Act?
Gave federal aid to encourange the development of infant and maternity health centers
What was the Fordney-McCumber Act?
1922
Increased protective tariffs
What were Harding’s shortcomings?
- Scandel (Extramarital affairs)
- Corruption (e.g Teapot Dome Scandel)
- Limited Government intervention (achieved very little)
What were Cooliage’s achievements?
- Very popular
- No scandel
- Continued ‘Million Plan’
- Largest economic boom in US history
What were Coolidge’s failings?
- Did very little
- Didn’t speak up on American problems (named ‘Silent Cal’)
What was the ‘Million’s Plan’?
- Low Tax
- Low Interest Rates
- Low Government Spending
What was the Revenue Act?
1924
- Cut income tax
- Part of the ‘Millions Plan’
What was Hoover’s economic beliefs?
- Very laisez Faire attitude
- Believed in rugged individualism - people should help themselves or others
- Federal Government shouldn’t be involved
What was the Hawley-Smoot Tariff?
1930
- increased tariffs = increase in prices = no domestic demand + decrease in trading = over-production
What was the Revenue Act?
- 1932
- Increase in tax
Who were the Bonus Marchers and how did Hoover treat them?
- Wanted to get their promised bonus from serving in world war early
- Camped in Washington
- He set the federal army on them = injured over 100
What was the Reconstruction Finance Corporation?
- Began in Jan 1932
- Let $2 bil to rescue banks, companies ect
What was the Emergency Relief & Construction Act?
1932
- Gave $300 mil to state governments to help unemployed
What was the Home Loan Bank Act?
1932
- stimulated house building
- Gave government loans to buy houses (but had to give a 50% deposit)
what was the Grain Stabilisation Corporation?
1930
- Government bought grain to keep prices up
What was the Agricultural Marketing Act?
1930
- Provided loans to farmers (Government backed)