The Roaring
Twenties
Americans want to return to
normal times
Return To Normal Times
 By
the start of the 1920’s, Americans were
tired of war
 They wanted a return to “normal” times
 Americans wanted the country less
involved in world affairs
What helped Americans
returned to Normal Times?
 Warren
G. Harding (R) runs for president in
1920 promising a “return to normalcy”

He is elected in a landslide
Warren G. Harding
 Former
senator from Ohio
 Vice President is Calvin Coolidge
 Harding is not interested in “heroics, but
healing.”
 Takes office in 1921
Harding’s Presidential
Accomplishments
 Emergency

Quota Act
Limits immigration to the U.S.
 Raised
tariff on imported goods
 Creates Bureau of the Budget

Oversee’s Veteran’s Bureau
Scandal Under Harding
 Several
of Harding’s appointees use their
offices to make personal profits
 Teapot Dome Scandal

Harding’s Secretary of the Interior rents U.S.
oil fields to businessmen for a $400,000
payoff
 Attorney
General and Veteran’s Bureau
Chief charged with fraud and bribery
 Harding dies in office on 8/2/1923
Teapot Dome Scandal
President Coolidge
 Man

of few words – showed little emotion
On hearing of his death, poet Dorthy Parker
remarks: “How could they tell?”
 Believed
that “the business of America is
business.”



Supporter of the business community
Felt gov’t control and regulation of business
hurt the economy
He was against Progressive reforms
Election of 1924




Coolidge is
confident of the
nations future
Economy was
strong
Lives of Americans
were improving
“Keep cool with
Coolidge”
Coolidge’s 2nd Term




Promotes economic development at home
and peace abroad
Reduces government spending and
corporate taxes
Encouraged nations to destroy their weapons
Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)


Outlawed war
Americans were content to ignore foreign
affairs because of the booming economy at
home
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