THE 1920’S: AN UNSETTLED DECADE (1919-1929)

CCALL TOALL TOFFREEDOMREEDOM

HOLT

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON1

1865 to the Present

THE 1920’S: THE 1920’S: AN UNSETTLED DECADEAN UNSETTLED DECADE(1919-1929)(1919-1929)Section 1:Section 1: Returning to “Normalcy” Returning to “Normalcy”

Section 2:Section 2: Republicans in Power Republicans in Power

Section 3:Section 3: “The Business of America is Business” “The Business of America is Business”

Section 4:Section 4: The U.S. Economy The U.S. Economy

Chapter 12


HOLT


1865 to the Present

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES What difficulties did the United States face What difficulties did the United States face

when making the transition from war to when making the transition from war to peacetime?peacetime?

What were some of the causes of the strikes What were some of the causes of the strikes and riots of 1919?and riots of 1919?

How did the Red Scare affect American How did the Red Scare affect American society?society?

Section 1:Section 1:Returning to “Normalcy”Returning to “Normalcy”


HOLT


1865 to the Present

Difficulties in the Transition to PeaceDifficulties in the Transition to Peace U.S. struggled through a period of U.S. struggled through a period of demobilizationdemobilization – –

the process of returning to a peacetime economy.the process of returning to a peacetime economy. Veterans returned home to find their jobs had been Veterans returned home to find their jobs had been

filled by others.filled by others. To make room for the men, women were forced to To make room for the men, women were forced to

give up their jobs.give up their jobs. Business began laying off employees.Business began laying off employees. Prices and unemployment continued to rise but Prices and unemployment continued to rise but

wages fell or stayed about the same.wages fell or stayed about the same.



HOLT


1865 to the Present

Causes of Strikes and Riots of 1919Causes of Strikes and Riots of 1919 Workers went on strike for better pay.Workers went on strike for better pay. In February 1919 union workers in the shipbuilding In February 1919 union workers in the shipbuilding

industry went on strike in Seattle, Washington.industry went on strike in Seattle, Washington. Demanding more pay and shorter working hours, Demanding more pay and shorter working hours,

steel workers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania walked off steel workers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania walked off the job on September 22, 1919.the job on September 22, 1919.

September 1919, police in Boston went on strike and September 1919, police in Boston went on strike and the state militia was called in to restore order.the state militia was called in to restore order.



HOLT


1865 to the Present

The Red Scare and American SocietyThe Red Scare and American Society Strikes and riots of 1919 led to fears that a Strikes and riots of 1919 led to fears that a

communist revolution might occur in the U.S.communist revolution might occur in the U.S. U.S. leaders feared that groups that U.S. leaders feared that groups that

challenged the government threatened the challenged the government threatened the American way of life.American way of life.

Many Americans stereotyped a majority of Many Americans stereotyped a majority of European immigrants as being dangerous.European immigrants as being dangerous.



HOLT


1865 to the Present

The Red Scare and American SocietyThe Red Scare and American Society Public concern grew after several bombings Public concern grew after several bombings

were aimed at business and government were aimed at business and government leaders such as U.S. Attorney General leaders such as U.S. Attorney General A. A. Mitchell PalmerMitchell Palmer..

The Red Scare added to the climate of The Red Scare added to the climate of xenophobiaxenophobia – the fear and hatred of – the fear and hatred of foreigners. foreigners.


(continued)


HOLT


1865 to the Present

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES How did the Harding and Coolidge How did the Harding and Coolidge

administration address economic issues?administration address economic issues? What foreign policy did the United States What foreign policy did the United States

follow during the 1920’s?follow during the 1920’s? Why did Republicans win the presidential Why did Republicans win the presidential

elections of the 1920’s?elections of the 1920’s?

Section 2:Section 2:Republicans in PowerRepublicans in Power


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1865 to the Present

Harding and Coolidge and the EconomyHarding and Coolidge and the Economy Both were pro-business.Both were pro-business. They supported aid to farmers.They supported aid to farmers. Congress passed many tax cuts under Congress passed many tax cuts under

Coolidge.Coolidge. Harding kept government spending to a Harding kept government spending to a

minimum and favored low taxes, low interest minimum and favored low taxes, low interest rates on loans, high tariffs, and little economic rates on loans, high tariffs, and little economic regulation.regulation.



HOLT


1865 to the Present

U.S. Foreign Policy in the 1920’sU.S. Foreign Policy in the 1920’s The U.S. promoted peace and economic The U.S. promoted peace and economic

growth abroad.growth abroad. Diplomats hoped that new treaties would Diplomats hoped that new treaties would

prevent another world war and make the prevent another world war and make the global economy stronger.global economy stronger.

The U.S. supported The U.S. supported disarmamentdisarmament – the – the practice of limiting military weapons.practice of limiting military weapons.



HOLT


1865 to the Present

U.S. Foreign Policy in the 1920’sU.S. Foreign Policy in the 1920’s At the At the Washington ConferenceWashington Conference (1921), the (1921), the

U.S. and other countries signed the U.S. and other countries signed the Five-Five-Power Naval TreatyPower Naval Treaty, which limited the , which limited the maximum size of each country’s Navy.maximum size of each country’s Navy.

In August 1928, the U.S. and 14 other In August 1928, the U.S. and 14 other countries signed the countries signed the Kellogg-Briand PactKellogg-Briand Pact, , which tried to outlaw war.which tried to outlaw war.


(continued)


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1865 to the Present

Republicans Win the Election of 1928Republicans Win the Election of 1928 Candidates reflected the growing political Candidates reflected the growing political

differences between rural and urban America.differences between rural and urban America. Protestants opposed Democratic candidate Protestants opposed Democratic candidate

Alfred E. SmithAlfred E. Smith because he was Catholic. because he was Catholic. Republican candidate Republican candidate Herbert HooverHerbert Hoover seemed seemed

to represent traditional values and was linked to represent traditional values and was linked to the country’s economic success.to the country’s economic success.



HOLT


1865 to the Present

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES How did the assembly line affect How did the assembly line affect

manufacturing?manufacturing? What effect did the automobile have on the What effect did the automobile have on the

economy and people’s everyday lives?economy and people’s everyday lives? How did advertising and installment plans How did advertising and installment plans

change people’s buying habits?change people’s buying habits?

Section 3: “The BusinessSection 3: “The Businessof America is Business”of America is Business”


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1865 to the Present

The Assembly Line and ManufacturingThe Assembly Line and Manufacturing The assembly line was a faster method of building cars The assembly line was a faster method of building cars

used in used in Henry Ford’sHenry Ford’s automobile factory. automobile factory. It moved quickly because each person did one simple task It moved quickly because each person did one simple task

repeatedly.repeatedly. The assembly line benefited business owners by saving The assembly line benefited business owners by saving

time and lowering manufacturing costs.time and lowering manufacturing costs. The stress of assembly line jobs caused workers to quit on The stress of assembly line jobs caused workers to quit on

a regular basis leading to retraining expenses for a regular basis leading to retraining expenses for manufacturers.manufacturers.



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1865 to the Present

Effects of the Automobile on the Economy Effects of the Automobile on the Economy and People’s Livesand People’s Lives The automobile supplied the public with The automobile supplied the public with

inexpensive transportation.inexpensive transportation. Millions of workers held jobs that supported Millions of workers held jobs that supported

automobile manufacturing.automobile manufacturing. Automobiles changed the landscape of Automobiles changed the landscape of

America with the building of new America with the building of new communities.communities.



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1865 to the Present

Effects of the Automobile on the Economy Effects of the Automobile on the Economy and People’s Livesand People’s Lives Federal and state governments funded bridge, Federal and state governments funded bridge,

highway and tunnel construction projects.highway and tunnel construction projects. Families began taking driving vacations and Families began taking driving vacations and

roadside businesses developed.roadside businesses developed.


(continued)


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1865 to the Present

Advertising and Installment Buying Advertising and Installment Buying and the Consumerand the Consumer The birth of new products led to a boom in The birth of new products led to a boom in

advertising and installment buying.advertising and installment buying. Advertisers helped create nationally known Advertisers helped create nationally known

brand names and encouraged people to buy brand names and encouraged people to buy products.products.

Advertisements promised Americans more Advertisements promised Americans more leisure time.leisure time.



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1865 to the Present

Advertising and Installment Buying Advertising and Installment Buying and the Consumerand the Consumer Installment plansInstallment plans allowed people to buy allowed people to buy

goods that had once been out of their reach.goods that had once been out of their reach.installment plansinstallment plans – program that allowed customers to – program that allowed customers to buy goods making a small down payment followed by buy goods making a small down payment followed by additional monthly payments with interestadditional monthly payments with interest


(continued)


HOLT


1865 to the Present

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES What caused the stock market boom in the What caused the stock market boom in the

1920’s?1920’s? What were the characteristics of “sick What were the characteristics of “sick

industries” in the 1920’s?industries” in the 1920’s? What difficulties did organized labor and the What difficulties did organized labor and the

agricultural industry experience during the agricultural industry experience during the 1920’s?1920’s?

Section 4:Section 4:The U.S. EconomyThe U.S. Economy


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1865 to the Present

Causes of the Stock Market Boom Causes of the Stock Market Boom in the 1920’sin the 1920’s Government’s pro-business policies and the Government’s pro-business policies and the

1920s production led to increased profits for 1920s production led to increased profits for many companies.many companies.

From 1923-1928 stock sales on the New York From 1923-1928 stock sales on the New York Stock Exchange increased by nearly 400 Stock Exchange increased by nearly 400 percent as Americans dreamed of great percent as Americans dreamed of great wealth.wealth.



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1865 to the Present

Causes of the Stock Market Boom Causes of the Stock Market Boom in the 1920’sin the 1920’s People borrowed money to buy stock.People borrowed money to buy stock. Business owners, such as Business owners, such as J.C. PenneyJ.C. Penney who who

owned a chain of department stores, offered owned a chain of department stores, offered stock options to managers.stock options to managers.


(continued)


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1865 to the Present

Characteristics of “Sick Industries”Characteristics of “Sick Industries” "Sick industries" did not share in the nation’s "Sick industries" did not share in the nation’s

prosperity and struggled.prosperity and struggled. They were slow or unable to adapt to They were slow or unable to adapt to

changing technology and consumer demand.changing technology and consumer demand. Struggling industries included coal, lumber Struggling industries included coal, lumber

and textiles whose products were being and textiles whose products were being replaced with more modern materials.replaced with more modern materials.



HOLT


1865 to the Present

Difficulties of Organized Labor and Difficulties of Organized Labor and Agriculture During the 1920’sAgriculture During the 1920’s Unions lost government support in peacetime.Unions lost government support in peacetime. Businesses stopped hiring union workers.Businesses stopped hiring union workers. Violent strikes of 1919 had led to strong Violent strikes of 1919 had led to strong

antiunion feelings.antiunion feelings. Union membership dropped and many Union membership dropped and many

industries became industries became “closed shops”“closed shops” where only where only union members could work.union members could work.



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1865 to the Present

Difficulties of Organized Labor and Difficulties of Organized Labor and Agriculture During the 1920’sAgriculture During the 1920’s With the end of war, farmer’s supply was With the end of war, farmer’s supply was

higher than demand.higher than demand. Food prices dropped and farmers could not Food prices dropped and farmers could not

pay their debts and lost their land.pay their debts and lost their land. Republican leaders did not want to interfere Republican leaders did not want to interfere

with the free-enterprise system by regulating with the free-enterprise system by regulating farm prices.farm prices.


(continued)

Documents

THE 1920’S: AN UNSETTLED DECADE (1919-1929)