The Domestic and Foreign policies of Harding and Coolidge Flashcards
1
Q
When was Warren Harding in power?
Describe his victory
A
- 1921-1923
- won a landslide victory
2
Q
What party were the presidents in this period a part of?
A
republican
3
Q
What was Harding’s campaign?
A
- “return to normalcy” - against wilson
- little government intervention
- outsider opponent James M.Cox launched an energetic campaign - ignored by Harding
4
Q
What were Harding’s acheivements?
A
- N. of able appointments inc Andrew Mellon as Secretary of State for the Treasury, Herbert Hoover: Secretary of Commerce
- Sheppard-Towner Maternity Aid Act provided federal aid to states to encourage them to build infant and maternity health centres
- cuts to gov spending: E.g the Budget and Accounting Act made departments present budgets to president for approval
- Gov spending, totalled $5000 mill in 1920, fallen to $3333 mill by 1922
- limited federal gov intervention reflected mood of nation
- achieved aim of return to normalcy - little gov int-
5
Q
What were Harding’s failures?
A
- described as one of weakest and least effective presidents
- own personal rep tainted by extramarital affairs
- achieved very little due to belief in normalcy
- made some dubious appointments inc some of “Ohio gang”
- 1923 - emerged that there had been extensive corruption during Harding’s administration
6
Q
Give examples of corruption under Harding (apart from teapot dome)
A
- Veteran’s Bureau had misappropriated or wasted $250 mill
- Alien Property Custodian had accepted bribes
7
Q
What was the Teapot dome scandal
A
- During harding P
- involved secret leasing of federal oil reserves by the Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall
- 1922: Fall secretly granted to Harry Sinclair of the Mammoth Oil Company: exclusive rights to the Teapot Dome reserves
- when public: Harding forced to cancel leases
- Supreme Court ruled illegal Harding’s transfer of authority to Fall
- little impact on popularity of Republican party
8
Q
When was Calvin Coolidge in power?
A
- 1923-1929
9
Q
How did Coolidge’s come into power
A
- Harding died 1923
- Coolidge Vice-President: sworn in
- won decisive victory in election following year
- given credit for booming economy and isolationist policy
- helped by split in Democratic Party
10
Q
What did Coolidge believe in and continue in terms of policies?
A
- believed in little gov intervention
- His election victory of 1924 led to an extension of Republican pro-business policies, with low taxation, low interest rates and min gov spending
11
Q
What were Coolidge’s positive qualitites?
A
- made more speeches and met more people than any of predecessors
- popular president: exuded confidence and appeared calm and unflappable
- honest, incorruptible
- did not smoke, drink or chase women
12
Q
What were Coolidge’s negative qualities?
A
- criticised for doing and saying little during term in office
- low work rate
- slept a lot and said very little - nickname “silent cal”
- some believed he suffered severe depression in 1924 after death of son
- seen has having superiority complex
- did very little to address problems in USA
13
Q
Foreign Policy in 1920s
What were the US aims in foreign policy?
A
- wanted to avoid involvement of further conflict (After WW1)
- Growing fear of spread of Communism after Bolshevik Revolution in Oct 1917 - seen as threat to US
- USA wanted to maintain status quo in naval power and the Far East: had most powerful navy in world and wanted to stop any further naval arm race (esp with growth of Japan’s navy)
- US wanted to protect their interests, esp in trade, in far East by maintaining status quo and “Open Door” policy - threatened by Japanese expansionist policies
- determined to maintain Monroe Doctrine and its economic and political interest in LA
14
Q
Who attended Washington Conference?
A
- US, GB, Japan, Franc and Italy
15
Q
- US took initiative in promoting disarmament:
What were the reasons for Washington Conference?
A
- wanted to prevent renewal of Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1922: Britain keen to renew this to secure Japanese support for her interests in far east
- USA wished to maintain status quo in china - particularly Open door policy - favoured US trading interests
- in charge of FP: Charles Hughes - keen supporter of disarmament
16
Q
What was the most important reason US wanted Washington Conference?
A
- most imp reason: US fear of growing Japanese influence in far east:
- had acquired German colonies in Pacific and posed potential threat to communication links between Hawaii and other US possessions in Guam and Philippines
- Japan threatened China - which was increasingly vulnerable due to civil war
17
Q
What were the achievements of the Washington Conference?
A
- brought stability and peace in the Pacific
- made between four powers: USA, Britain, Japan and France, Italy signed in 1922
- Each agreed to reduce tonnage of battleships for 10 years
- persuaded Japan to accept less tonnage than britain and USA
- signed Four Power Treaty in which they agreed to respect each country’s interest in Far East
- Japan promised to remove its troops from Chinese province of Shantung and USA agreed not to strengthen military presence in Guam
18
Q
When was the Kellogg-Brand Pact?
A
- 1928
19
Q
What was the Kellogg-Brand Pact?
A
- international agreement set up by Frank B. Kellogg, US Secretary of State and Aristide briand, French Foreign Minister
- signed by 15 countries which agreed not to wage war unless in self-defence + to seek peaceful means to resolve disputes
- toothless: no sanctions to deal with countries that broke agreement
- senate ratified with 85 votes to one
20
Q
Why was the pact signed?
A
- 2 main reasons:
- French keen on Alliance with USA
- American used pact to placate french
- strong movement for peace in USA with growing support for peace societies
21
Q
What was the US’s attitude to loans?
A
- Prepared to lend money to countries after war to restore prosperity + prevent spread of communism
- except USSR and China
- Insisted all war debt be repaid
- Used debt repayments as threat to Euro powers
- esp when Britain tried to force up price of rubber by restricting supplies in British Empire
- US retaliated by threatening harsher repayment terms
22
Q
What was the Dawes Plan?
A
- US keen on stable Germany - prevent Com
- 1924
- Charles Dawes, American Banker, asked to investigate why Germany had defaulted on payments in 1923
- The plan reduced German payments to $250 mill a year increasing over 5 years as German economy improved
- Germany given immediate loan of 800 mill marks
23
Q
What was the Young Plan?
A
- 1929
- Drawn up by Owen Young
- Scaled down reperation payments to $26 billion to over 59 years
24
Q
Overall what was the process of Germany paying back reparations?
A
- US lend money to Germany
- used to pay back Allies
- Allies payed back USA
25
Q
How was involvement in Latin America during this period?
A
- most part - return to isolationism
- continued to pursue and protect interests in LA
- increased involv in 1920s
- due to Monroe Doctrine and Good Neighbour Policy
- mostly economic
26
Q
What was the US economic involvement in Latin America?
A
- investment in LA doubled 1924-1929 from $1.5 bil to $3 bil
- inc automobile firms such as General Motars
- 1923, General Electric set up the American and Foreign Power Company and controlled provision of electricity in 8 LA countries
- US companies dominated radio and media
- Kemmerer Plans helped to stabilised and develop economies of LA countries by offering advice on sound currency and central banks
27
Q
How did US involvement in LA cause problems?
A
- Increased US involvement to protect investments
- It would intervene to prevent US loans being spent by corrupt officials on luxaries
- US reluctant to sanction military intervention because expensive and unpopular with taxpayers
28
Q
Settling Disputes:
US relation with Colombia?
A
- gave $25 million in compensation for its support for independence of Panama in 1903
29
Q
Settling Disputes:
US relation with Mexico?
A
- Ongoing dispute with Mexico after defaulted on its international debts in 1914
- 1922: the Mexican Gov agreed to repay $500,000
- 1923: the Bucareli Accords provided compensation for damage caused to foreign property during Mexican Revolution
30
Q
Settling Disputes:
US relations with Nicaragua
A
- 1925, US troops withdrawn from Nicaragua to improve relations between countries
- However, following year 5,000 troops sent back due to outbreak of Civil War
- Henry Simson, organised the Peace Treaty of Tipitapa which led to election of Juan Bautista Sacasa in 1928
