1920s U.S. Political Transformation Quiz

1920s U.S. Political Transformation

• Progressive politics of the 1910s, focusing on worker's rights, migrant/minority rights, and women's rights, lost popularity by the end of WWI.
• President Wilson's leadership in WWI and the League of Nations initiatives were controversial, dividing public opinion .
• Opposition to the League of Nations, particularly among German and Irish immigrants, wanted US focus on domestic economic recovery.
• Republican nominee Warren G. Harding, promising a return to "normalcy", won the 1920 election.
• This signaled a shift from progressive liberalism to conservative ideology.

Harding Administration and the Teapot Dome Scandal

• Harding's 1921 campaign and victory mark a sharp political turn, away from progressive ideals.
• Harding appealed to voters seeking a return to post-war stability.
• Harding's administration faced controversy due to corruption, notably the Teapot Dome Scandal involving Secretary of Interior Albert Fall.
• Fall accepted bribes for awarding oil drilling rights and was the first Cabinet member convicted of a felony.
• Similar corruption incidents during previous presidencies, such as Grant's, were compared to the Harding administration.
• Harding's actions resulted in tax cuts and the revival of the US economy, though faced corruption issues.

Coolidge's Presidency and Economic Prosperity

• Coolidge, taking over after Harding's death, prioritized tax cuts and furthered pro-isolation stance in foreign policy.
• He was known for honesty, strengthening public trust and was re-elected in 1924.
• Coolidge's pro-business approach lead to booming economic growth, reduced working hours, and increased consumer spending. This period is often referred to as the "Roaring Twenties".

Herbert Hoover and the Republican Political Dominance

• The success of the Republican Party continued with Herbert Hoover's win in 1928.
• As Secretary of Commerce, Hoover was deeply involved during Harding and Coolidge's presidencies, carrying their political ideals into his administration.
• This continuity in political ideology fostered a period of prosperity and technological advancements, a key component of the Roaring Twenties.
• Hoover's victory was an affirmation of the established Republican political dominance and focus on economic prosperity.
• Hoover's victory marked an enduring political transformation, with the Republicans maintaining their political dominance.
• Unfortunately, his term was also marked by the ensuing stock market crash and the Great Depression.

Test your knowledge on the political shifts in the U.S. during the 1920s, focusing on the impact of World War I, the leadership of President Wilson, and the transition to Harding's administration. Explore how issues like worker's rights and the League of Nations influenced public opinion and led to a conservative resurgence.