Warren G Harding Flashcards
- What did they believe was the role of the presidency
Lassie fair approach
Return to normalcy
Figurehead president
-How have they been perceived by historians and contemporaries
Many historians think he was one of the worst presidents ever (Teapot dome scandal) and that he achieved very little during his presidency
-Many contemporaries after his death several million people lined the railroad tracks in tribute of him
-What reforms did they introduce?
-Progressive reforms: Sheppard-Towner maternity act under which the states received federal aid for infant and maternity health programmes.
asked congress for anti-lynching bill(house passed but blocked in senate)
-Conservatives reforms: Lowered federal government expenditure, which the war had propelled from $500 million in 1913 to $5000 million in 1920.
Criticised protectionist Fordeny-Mccumber
Vetoed bonuses for veterans
Mellon cut taxes
What impact did they make on the Presidency? Any changes? Their importance in domestic or international affairs?
-Harding’s presidency was criticised for achieving little
However, he restored a sense of calm and prosperity
Disliked and decreased interventionalist
He had good relations with the press
Innovative PR press
several million lined railroad track to pay respects at funeral
Overall, do you think they were predominantly progressive or conservative? Why?
Harding was predominantly conservative with lowered federal government expenditure and the vetoing of bonuses for veterans. However, he did show signs of progression with the Sheppard-Towner maternity act
what were the main reasons for Harding’s election.
-During progressive era and the war, the federal government intervened to an unprecedent extent (drafting, Many Americans paid federal taxes for the first time, sedition act and more government agencies)
- after the war there was strikes, economic issues, red scare, race riots, flu pandemic and an absentee president. This made them think that progressive presidency of Wilson had caused this leading there to be a want for a return to normalcy.
-Harding’s victory showed how people were tired of Wilsons activism
-He rejected the league of nations as he recognised Americans were far more concerned with post war economic problems than about post-war peace and internationalism. ‘America first’
-promise of return to normalcy in foreign and domestic affairs + they did not want an active president (lassie faire)
what was the teapot dome scandal
Harding’s secretary of interior, fall, accepted bribes in exchange for leasing federal petrol reserves- fined 10,000-although Harding not involved tarnished his name =nepotisim=Ohio gang
