The Roaring Twenties“The Birth-Scream of the Modern”

Learning Target

Compare the goals of the Harding administration to those of the Progressive Era.

The Mood of Post-War America

Sick of Crusades

Progressivism required sacrifice-

Americans were tired-

Warren G. HardingCalled for a “Return to Normalcy”-

Senator from Ohio, who looked like a president and was likeable, if average.

Believed in small government-

The Harding ScandalsThe “Ohio Gang”-

The Teapot Dome Scandal-

The Veteran’s Bureau Scandal

Personal Scandals:

● Much younger girlfriends● Rumors of trysts, tunnels, and an

illegitimate baby.

Harding’s successesPardons Eugene Debs-

Strong supporter of women’s rights-

Desegregates the Federal Government-

Foreign Policy successes-

Calvin Coolidge“Silent Cal”-

Great friend of business-

Boring, but hilarious-

Oddly Quotable:

–

“The Business of America is business”–“The man who builds a factory, builds a temple. The man who works there worships there.”–The story of the woman at the white house dinner.–“Farmers have always been poor, I don’t suppose there’s anything the government can do about it”

Coolidge’s PhilosophyVERY pro-business-

“Coolidge Prosperity”

VERY limited government-

Would’ve fit very well in the Gilded Age-

Herbert Hoover“Rugged Individualism”-

Self-Made Millionaire-

Humanitarian-

Right man, wrong time?-

● Great Depression-

Overall Evaluation of 20s Presidents

•Sets the trends for much of 20th Century Republican Presidents

–Low tax pro-business economic outlook creates great wealth and tremendous poverty

–Seemingly little interest in using the government to promote social issues

–Widely popular in small town, conservative America

–Very much in the tradition of Reagan/Bush/Bush, at least in terms of domestic outlook.

Learning Target

Compare the goals of the Harding administration to those of the Progressive Era.