Aghilieine iy ATNETICAY EUstas AGE OF PROSPERITY AND CHANGE The beginning of the 1920s found the United States facing problems in adjusting to its political, industrial, and social life. Americans were strong and confident that they could deal with them. Presidents like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, strong and aggressive leaders, had brought the government nearcr to the people. Government was engaged in all kinds of activities and programs such as helping the needy, international cooperation, production and distribution of ‘manufactured goods, and industrial regulation. Congress was now in session for many more weeks, and the debates were more widely publicized among interested citizens, ‘Warren G. Harding of Ohio was elected to the presidency in 1920. He campaigned from the front porch of his home in Ohio and promised to “return to normalcy.” People wanted life to be as it was before the war. He was also the first president to speak to the peuple over the radio. He helieved it was the responsibility of the federal govermment to help businesses and corporations succeed in the economy. He was a pleasant person with little experience for the presidency. When he assumed the presidency, he appointed Charles Evans Hughes, Herbert Hoover, and Andrew W. Mellon. These ‘men were highly qualified and competent. Some of the other appointments were disappointing. One of his appointments as Secretary of the Interior was Allbert Fall. The government had reserve oil fields in Teapot Dome, Wyoming, and Elk Hills, California. Albert Fall leased these two government reserve oil ficlds to private interests in return for gifts and loans. This transaction became known as The Teapot Dome scandal. Fall was convicted of ribery. President Harding did ‘not possess a strung leadership to control rhe dishonesty, bribery, and corruption during his administration. While in office, President Harding pardoned socialist Eugene V. Debs in 1921. Vice President Calvin Coolidge was an intcresting man, very different frum President Harding. ‘When President Harding died suddenly before ue wad ot his tem, Vice President Calvi Coolidge was in Vermont with his family. Cuolidge's father administered the oath of presidential office to him. He was known as “Silent Cal.” Asa quiet and honest man, he supported business and believed thar government should not interfere with what business wanted to do. The majority of the voters seemed willing to go along with this policy. In the election of 1924, Coolidge was successful in his bid for the presidency. Andrew Mcllon and Herbert Hoover secved competently in his cabinet. Herbert Hoover became the Republican presidential candidate in the election of 1928, and he defeated Alfred Smith, the Democratic candidate. During the 1920s the Linited States experienced prosperity and economic growth. There was @ need for American manufactured products and food in devastated Europe until life rerurned to normal. The development of the automobile by Henry Ford was an important event which aided in economic growth and caused changes in American life. The introduction of the assembly line made the manufacturing of auromobiles efficient and the cost more reasonable. In 1921 Americansbought one and a half million automobiles; in 1929 they purchased five million automobiles. To make auromobiles, the manufacturers needed steel, glass, tools, machines, and other products. This led to the development and growth of relared industries and services. People who owned automobiles needed gasoline and roads on which to drive. Gasoline stations and road construction ‘companies developed. Home construction increased since the automobile allowed people to build tomes further from their places of work. The radio industry, motion picture industry, aviation, electronics, and home appliances were developing. Companies that were dependent on large-scale ‘mass production were consolidating to promote efficiency and created large corporations. People ‘were shopping in national chain stores rather Uuan locally owned shops. The economic growth was remarkable. At the same time, the wealth and purchasing power of the people were unequally distributed. It is estimated that about two thirds af the Americans in 1929 lived at the minimum comfort level. Nevertheless, American workers saw their standard of living rise, and they did enjoy improved working conditions and other benefits. Many people eared enough money to improve their lives. ‘A few employers who wanted to avoid labor problems and the growth of labor unions adopted ‘welfare capitalism.” Henry Ford shortened the work week and ave paid vacations to his employees. In some ‘companies, employees received increases in their wages, improved sanitation and safety in the workplace, and retirement pensions. However, the ‘owners did not offer employees any job security. The unskilled workers labored for low wages and they were powerless to do anything about it. The American. Federation of Labor had no interest in organizing unskilled workers who were mainly immigrants, women, and black Americans. They were reluctant to call strikes. Unions were accused of being subversive organizations which were attempting, secretly, 10 ‘overthrow the American government. Employers advocated the open shop, a workplace where no Z worker could be required to join a union. The Le decisions of the Supreme Court did not help the cause of unions. One of the decisions made picketing an illegal activity. ‘The farmers, during the 1920s, experienced a continued dawntrend in their income. Like the industrialists, the farmers used technology to increase production which was needed for the huge consumer demand. As Europe's economy improved, they purchased less and less food from ‘Americans. The food consumed by Americans remained about the same. Consequently, agricultural expansion caused serious problems in fuud prices and a drop in farm income. During the 1920s three million people left the farms. Farmers wanred government assistance in controlling and stabilizing prices of food products. During the 1920s the United States became a consumer society. Wealthy and ordinary Americans could afford to buy products that were necessary and some which were just enjoyable to have. ‘Appliances such as electric refrigerators and washing machines changed the way families lived and managed their homes. The automobile, as it became affordable, was in great demand as a means of transportation and enjoyment. Advertisements in newspapers, magazines, and on radio encouraged ‘consumers to buy products such as processed foods, cosmetics, household appliances, and manyothers that the modern economy produced. The radio provided entertainment, too, and encouraged the development of sports as a national pastime. People were informed about happenings almost instantly. The culture of the 1920s affecred women in several ways. Some women were college-educated Career opportunities were still limited although it was now possible for women to have both a ‘marriage and a career. Women became more active in political activities. With modern technology, women experienced a significant increase in their Icisurc time. The modem woman of the 1920s expressed her freedom by the way she dressed, her hair style, her dance, and her speech. Nevertheless, women realized Unat cheir “freedom” was being resisted. Some reform movements encouraged the establishment of women's organizarions such as the League af Women Voters ‘Women’s campaign for equal rights made little progress during the 1920s. Women activists were able to get Congress to pass the Sheppard- Towner Act which provided prenatal and health care programs for children. In 1929 this program was ended. Education was an important part of society and the family. More young people were enrolled in high schools. The schools offered a variety of programs, not only the traditional academic curriculum. They provided raining in areas sich as the new technical skills, engineering, and economics. Since young people had to spend more time in training before entering the workplace, the “adolescent culture” began to emerge. Adolescents identified themselves more and more with their peer groups rather than their families. Schools also developed extra-curricular activities such as clubs and organized sports. Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Charles Lindbergh were highly admired heroes who had become popular without the benefit of formal education. Nevertheless, the “Selfmade man” of Horatio Alger’s time was disappearing. The Eighteenth Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, went into effect on January 20, 1920. The Volstead Act was passed over President Wilson's veto to g0 into effect on the same day. This law defined an intoxicating beverage as one that contained at Teast one-half of one percent of alcohol. Individuals violated the law, and as time went on, the violations grew to include members of organized crime. Not much money was provided for federal agents to enforce the prohibition laws. Therefore, organized crime was able to take control of manufacturing, selling, and distributing illegal alcohol. The law was ineffective. It was not until 1933 that the Bighteenth Amendment was repealed. The Ku Klux Klan had been ineffective since the middle 1870s; however, it had a new beginning in the 1920s as it began to spread to industrial cities in the North. Membership was restricted ro white, Aimerican-bom Protestant men. They terrorized minoriries—blacks, Jews, Catholics, and foreigner—and tried ro force them out of their communities. Their influence began to decline by the mid 1920s. In 1924 Congress passed the National Origins Act which set lower quotas for southern and easter European immigrants and prohibited all immigration from Asia. This Act was promored by the nativists who were prejudiced against immigrants. The Asians felt offended and insulted by this Act. Immigration from Canada or Latin America was not restricted. The quotas or the numbers of ‘immigrants allowed to come to the United States were based on the “national origin” of the people residing in the United States during the 1890 census when there were more western and northern, Europeans in the population. The total number of immigrants was reduced tv 164,000 a year. In 1929 the number of immigrants allowed to enter was decreased to 150,000. By the end of the 1920s America was a much different place from what it had been before the war. ‘Changes occurred at a faster ratc than ever before. The American way of living with the products of technology, the ideas Americans believed, and the values they upheld was changing.