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Politics of the Roaring Twenties

Politics of the Roaring Twenties. US History Mr. Basich. United States: 1920 – Warren G. Harding is elected President (He died in 1923) 1927 – Henry Ford introduces the Model A. automobile. World: 1921 - Chinese Communist party is founded in Shanghai.

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Politics of the Roaring Twenties

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  1. Politics of the Roaring Twenties US History Mr. Basich

  2. United States: 1920 – Warren G. Harding is elected President (He died in 1923) 1927 – Henry Ford introduces the Model A. automobile. World: 1921 - Chinese Communist party is founded in Shanghai. 1922 - Mussolini is appointed prime minister of Italy. Timeline: What’s Going On?

  3. Section 1: Objectives • By the end of this lesson, I will be able to: • 1. Summarize the reaction in the United States to the perceived threat of communism. • 2. Analyze the causes and effects of the quota system in the United States. • 3. Explain in what ways the country’s prosperity was superficial.

  4. Section 1: Americans Struggle With Postwar Issues Main Idea: A desire for normalcy after the war and a fear of communism and “foreigners” led to postwar isolationism. Why it Matters Now: Americans today continue to debate political isolationism and immigration policy. Key Terms: Nativism Isolationism Communism Anarchists Quota System Key Names: Sacco and Vanzetti

  5. 20 Which of the following topics did you find most interesting from the video yesterday? • Prohibition • The flappers • Sacco and Vanzetti • The Scopes Trial • The Red Scare • The Birth of Jazz • The Rise of the Automobile • Hey! Mine isn’t here!

  6. Postwar Trends: • World War I had left America exhausted. • Soldiers returning from war faced unemployment • The economy was badly bruised ($ for the war) • Cost of living had doubled • Americans started to become fearful of outsiders (jobs, safety)

  7. Nativism and Isolationism: • Nativism – Prejudice against foreign-born people • Isolationism – Policy of pulling away from involvement in world affairs. • Why do you think these two things caught on in America after the war?

  8. Fear of Communism: • Communism was gaining ground many countries around the world • Communism – An economic and political system based on a single-party government ruled by a dictatorship. • A Communist Party formed in the US – 70,000 people joined. • This time period became known as the “Red Scare”

  9. Palmer Raids: • Government officials began hunting down suspected communists, socialists, and anarchists. • Anarchist – People who oppose any form of government. • In the Palmer Raids, private homes and businesses were raided and hundreds were deported. • These raids failed to turn up anything big and were seen as a failure.

  10. 20 How were the Palmer Raids and the Espionage and Sedition Acts similar? • They both were sponsored by the government • Some people saw them as an infringement on civil rights • They imprisoned people • All of the above are correct

  11. Sacco and Vanzetti: A Famous Case • In 1920, two Italian immigrants (and anarchists) were accused of murdering two factory guards • Witnesses said the criminals looked Italian • Sacco and Vanzetti were executed with no solid evidence

  12. The Quota System: • Americans began to blame immigrants for their problems • In response to this, Congress created the: • Quota System –established the maximum number of people who could enter the US from each foreign country. • It worked but angered many groups • In the end, Americans wanted things to go back to “normal”

  13. American Industries Flourish: • Calvin Coolidge followed Harding and focused hard on improving the American business. • He aimed to keep taxes down and business profits up. • Wages (and productivity) started to rise because of new technology. (electrical appliances, automobile, planes, etc.)

  14. The Impact Of The Automobile: (Part12) • People moved further away from their jobs – urban sprawl • The automobile was considered a status symbol as well • About 1/5 people had a car • Automobile factories sprung up in places like Detroit and Akron.

  15. America’s Standard Of Living Soars: • 1920-1929 was a very prosperous time for America. • Americans owned around 40% of the world’s wealth. • The average American income rose more than 35% (from $522-$705) • People started spending there money freely (on credit)

  16. A Superficial Prosperity: • During the 1920’s most Americans believed this prosperity would go on forever. • National income was up • Most companies were making a fortune • The Stock Market was reaching unprecedented levels

  17. Producing Great Quantities Of Goods: • As productivity increased, businesses expanded. • Companies merged, chain stores opened, farms produced excess crops. • Problems: • 1. Excess crops drove food prices down • 2. A huge income gap was being created between managers and workers

  18. Buying Goods On Credit: • Big companies allowed consumers to buy things without paying for them in full. • They borrowed money from the banks at very low interest rates. • Installment Plans – buying goods over an extended period , without having to put down much money at the time of purchase.

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