Politics of the 1920s
Politics of the 1920s
Sensing the post-war feelings of Americans, the Republican presidential
candidate of 1920, Warren G. Harding, a U.S. senator from Ohio, promised
the voters a "return to normalcy." His running mate was Calvin Coolidge, the
governor of Massachusetts. The Democratic candidates were James M. Cox,
the reformist governor of Ohio, and the young Franklin D. Roosevelt of New
York, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the Wilson administration. Cox
and Roosevelt campaigned on a reformist platform that supported America's
entry into the League of Nations. However, Americans did not support such a
reformist, internationalist stance. Harding won the presidential election with
16,152,200 of the over 25,000,000 votes cast -- the widest popular margin to
date (60.3%). The Republican administrations of the 1920s (Warren Harding,
Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover) called for a "New Era" of government
relations with the business community. Harding began the process as part of
his "return to normalcy." All of them strongly believed in a laissez-faire policy
of non-interference by government in any private business activity. At the
same time, they were aggressively "pro-business" and supported business
interests at home and abroad. For example, they favored high tariffs in order
to protect American industry. They also worked aggressively to negotiate
trade agreements with foreign nations that would open overseas markets to
American products.
Sensing the post-war feelings of Americans, the Republican presidential
candidate of 1920, Warren G. Harding, a U.S. senator from Ohio, promised
the voters a "return to normalcy." His running mate was Calvin Coolidge, the
governor of Massachusetts. The Democratic candidates were James M. Cox,
the reformist governor of Ohio, and the young Franklin D. Roosevelt of New
York, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the Wilson administration. Cox
and Roosevelt campaigned on a reformist platform that supported America's
entry into the League of Nations. However, Americans did not support such a
reformist, internationalist stance. Harding won the presidential election with
16,152,200 of the over 25,000,000 votes cast -- the widest popular margin to
date (60.3%). The Republican administrations of the 1920s (Warren Harding,
Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover) called for a "New Era" of government
relations with the business community. Harding began the process as part of
his "return to normalcy." All of them strongly believed in a laissez-faire policy
of non-interference by government in any private business activity. At the
same time, they were aggressively "pro-business" and supported business
interests at home and abroad. For example, they favored high tariffs in order
to protect American industry. They also worked aggressively to negotiate
trade agreements with foreign nations that would open overseas markets to
American products.
Civil Rights are Expanded
Civil Rights are Expanded
Women's suffrage organizations, such as the National American Woman
Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the National Woman's Party, had worked
for years to convince people that women should be given the right to vote.
They continued to organize through World War I. After the war, the suffrage
movement gained support and in 1920, women finally secured the ratification
of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution that guaranteed their right to vote.
Over the years, Native Americans had assimilated more and more into
American society. Native Americans, however, as a group were not citizens of
the U.S. Originally, each tribe was considered to be a separate "nation" (for
instance, the Cherokee Nation). The federal government finally granted Native
Americans citizenship in 1924 as a group, although about two-thirds had
acquired it previously via negotiated treaties, military service, etc.
Women's suffrage organizations, such as the National American Woman
Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the National Woman's Party, had worked
for years to convince people that women should be given the right to vote.
They continued to organize through World War I. After the war, the suffrage
movement gained support and in 1920, women finally secured the ratification
of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution that guaranteed their right to vote.
Over the years, Native Americans had assimilated more and more into
American society. Native Americans, however, as a group were not citizens of
the U.S. Originally, each tribe was considered to be a separate "nation" (for
instance, the Cherokee Nation). The federal government finally granted Native
Americans citizenship in 1924 as a group, although about two-thirds had
acquired it previously via negotiated treaties, military service, etc.
Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (1886-1939) -- Born Gertrude Pridgett, she originally attained
fame as a minstrel and vaudeville performer. In 1902, she first encountered the
beginnings of blues music. In 1904 she married a fellow performer, William "Pa"
Rainey, and quickly received the nickname "Ma." They performed minstrel and
vaudeville shows as a song-and-dance team. At some point, she began singing blues
songs and was instrumental in their musical evolution. She received yet another
nickname, the "Mother of the Blues." From 1923 (when she signed with Paramount)
until 1928, she recorded close to 100 songs.
Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (1886-1939) -- Born Gertrude Pridgett, she originally attained
fame as a minstrel and vaudeville performer. In 1902, she first encountered the
beginnings of blues music. In 1904 she married a fellow performer, William "Pa"
Rainey, and quickly received the nickname "Ma." They performed minstrel and
vaudeville shows as a song-and-dance team. At some point, she began singing blues
songs and was instrumental in their musical evolution. She received yet another
nickname, the "Mother of the Blues." From 1923 (when she signed with Paramount)
until 1928, she recorded close to 100 songs.
Joseph "King" Oliver (1885-1938) -- Like many other jazz musicians of the 1920s,
Oliver began his career in New Orleans. There he earned the name "King" while
playing cornet with Kid Ory's band. After the main jazz district in New Orleans was
shut down, he moved to Chicago in 1922 and formed King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band.
After four years, he asked Louis Armstrong to join him and play cornet with him.
Armstrong later became perhaps the greatest and most famous jazz musician ever.
By 1928, however, the band broke up and Oliver moved to New York City. By the late
1920s, health problems slowed him down and his popularity faded.
Joseph "King" Oliver (1885-1938) -- Like many other jazz musicians of the 1920s,
Oliver began his career in New Orleans. There he earned the name "King" while
playing cornet with Kid Ory's band. After the main jazz district in New Orleans was
shut down, he moved to Chicago in 1922 and formed King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band.
After four years, he asked Louis Armstrong to join him and play cornet with him.
Armstrong later became perhaps the greatest and most famous jazz musician ever.
By 1928, however, the band broke up and Oliver moved to New York City. By the late
1920s, health problems slowed him down and his popularity faded.
Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) -- Louis Armstrong is arguably the greatest jazz
musician of all time. Armstrong began his study of the cornet in New Orleans after
he was sent to the Colored Waifs School as a juvenile delinquent in 1913. Playing
music quickly became his passion. He did not actually own his first cornet until given
one by "King" Oliver. The two spent much time playing together. When Oliver left
the Kid Ory band in 1918, Armstrong replaced him. In 1926, Oliver asked Armstrong
to join him in Chicago. By the late 1920s, Louis Armstrong's popularity was soaring.
He quit Oliver's band and played in several bands, eventually switching to the
trumpet. His fame continued to grow and his musical style and repertoire continued
to grow. Through his many film, radio, and television appearances, he popularized
jazz music. Until his health began to fade in the late 1960s, Louis Armstrong toured
throughout the world. Even as his career came to a close, Armstrong recorded yet
another number one hit, "What a Wonderful World," in 1968.
Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) -- Louis Armstrong is arguably the greatest jazz
musician of all time. Armstrong began his study of the cornet in New Orleans after
he was sent to the Colored Waifs School as a juvenile delinquent in 1913. Playing
music quickly became his passion. He did not actually own his first cornet until given
one by "King" Oliver. The two spent much time playing together. When Oliver left
the Kid Ory band in 1918, Armstrong replaced him. In 1926, Oliver asked Armstrong
to join him in Chicago. By the late 1920s, Louis Armstrong's popularity was soaring.
He quit Oliver's band and played in several bands, eventually switching to the
trumpet. His fame continued to grow and his musical style and repertoire continued
to grow. Through his many film, radio, and television appearances, he popularized
jazz music. Until his health began to fade in the late 1960s, Louis Armstrong toured
throughout the world. Even as his career came to a close, Armstrong recorded yet
another number one hit, "What a Wonderful World," in 1968.
W.C. Handy (1873-1958) -- W.C. (William Christopher) Handy was the son and
grandson of ministers. He went to college and taught school for some time. Born and
raised in Alabama, Handy took to heart the music of Southern blacks. He saw blues
music as a reflection of black slave culture as well as the harsh realities of life that
followed the Civil War. Handy pursued a career in music much to his father's chagrin.
He had his own band from 1903 to 1921. Handy is best known, however, for his
compositions that fused ragtime and blues music. His first big hit, "Memphis Blues,"
did not come until 1911. He was forced to publish one of his best-known pieces -"St. Louis Blues" (1914) -- himself. Because of this, he organized his own publishing
firm that he headed for years. After "Memphis Blues," hits followed in rapid
succession, eventually earning him the title "Father of the Blues."
W.C. Handy (1873-1958) -- W.C. (William Christopher) Handy was the son and
grandson of ministers. He went to college and taught school for some time. Born and
raised in Alabama, Handy took to heart the music of Southern blacks. He saw blues
music as a reflection of black slave culture as well as the harsh realities of life that
followed the Civil War. Handy pursued a career in music much to his father's chagrin.
He had his own band from 1903 to 1921. Handy is best known, however, for his
compositions that fused ragtime and blues music. His first big hit, "Memphis Blues,"
did not come until 1911. He was forced to publish one of his best-known pieces -"St. Louis Blues" (1914) -- himself. Because of this, he organized his own publishing
firm that he headed for years. After "Memphis Blues," hits followed in rapid
succession, eventually earning him the title "Father of the Blues."
Reading Questions
Full Sentences
1.) What was the campaign slogan of Warren
Harding? What was the government's
relationship with business during the 1920s?
2.)Which groups received expanded civil rights
during the 1920s? What rights were extended to
those groups?
In the 1920s two new types of African-American music burst onto the
national music scene: blues and jazz. Blues initially developed from the
songs of African-American slaves in parts of the Deep South. Its African
influences are evident in its tones and structures. Jazz also had its roots
in traditional African-American musical forms -- it melded African
rhythms and European tones. Jazz first developed in New Orleans and
spread to other urban areas populated by blacks. During the 1920s,
through live performances, recordings, and especially through radio -which itself had only become a household possession in the 1920s -both blues and jazz became immensely popular among white audiences.
Indeed, as radio and the recording industry spread the sound of blues
and jazz throughout the country, the music of the nation's black
community became one of the defining features of 1920s mass culture.
Indeed, jazz music became so tremendously popular that the 1920s are
frequently referred to as the "Jazz Age," a name popularized by the
novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald. The term refers to both the music and the
freewheeling lifestyle that accompanied it.
What are the roots of jazz?
Where did jazz spread and grow?
Jazz or Blues?
Jazz or Blues?
Jazz or Blues?
Jazz or Blues?
Jazz or Blues?
How did jazz catch on with white
crowds?
What does Fitzgerald mean by “Jazz
age”?
Write an essay describing the origins of blues and jazz. To
complete the project, follow these steps:
1. Listen to a musical piece performed by one of the artists in
the accompanying list. What do you think are the defining
elements of blues and jazz? How does each song make you
feel?
2. Using as many resources as possible, write an essay that
includes the following elements:
a. Explain the origins of blues and jazz.
b. How did they contribute to the culture of the 1920s?
c. What effect did radio have on the spread of what
had been previously local or ethnic cultural forms?
d. Create an artifact that expresses your argument in nonlingustic (don’t use words) terms.