Roaring Twenties

The Roaring Twenties refers to the North American historical period of the 1920s, which has been described as "one of the most colorful decades in American history." The decade encapsulates a fascinating story, beginning with the return of young soldiers from the fronts of the First World War and emergence of a new and confident face of the modern womanhood, and ending with the sad note of the Black Tuesday, harbinger of the Great Depression. The years of the Roaring Twenties are marked by several inventions and discoveries of far reaching consequences; emergence of unprecedented industrial boom and accelerated consumer demand and aspirations, coupled with significant changes in the lifestyle; and a series of events, national as well as the international, which shaped a large part of the history of the 20th century.

American politics during the Roaring Twenties

Warren G. Harding

Warren G. Harding ran on a promise to "Return to Normalcy", a term he coined, which reflected three trends of his time: a renewed isolationism in reaction to World War I, a resurgence of nativism, and a turning away from the government activism of the reform era. Throughout his administration, Harding adopted laissez-faire policies. Harding's "Front Porch Campaign" during the late summer and fall of 1920 captured the imagination of the country. Not only was it the first campaign to be heavily covered by the press, and to receive widespread newsreel coverage, but it was also the first modern campaign to use the power of Hollywood and Broadway stars who traveled to Marion for photo opportunities with Harding and his wife. Al Jolson, Lillian Russell, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were among the luminaries to make the pilgrimage to central Ohio. Business icons Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone also lent their cachet to the Front Porch Campaign. From the onset of the campaign until the November election, over 600,000 people traveled to Marion to participate. His administration was plagued with scandals with which he was likely not involved. On the scandals he commented, "My God, this is a hell of a job!" and, "I have no trouble with my enemies, but my damn friends, they're the ones that keep me walking the floor nights."

Related Topics:
Warren G. Harding - Return to Normalcy - Nativism - Laissez-faire - Photo opportunities - Al Jolson - Lillian Russell - Douglas Fairbanks - Mary Pickford - Ohio - Thomas Edison - Henry Ford - Harvey Firestone

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See also: U.S. presidential election, 1920

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Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge was inaugurated as president after the death of President Harding. He was easily elected in 1924 when he ran on a basis of order and prosperity. Coolidge made use of the new medium of radio and made radio history several times while president: his inauguration was the first presidential inauguration broadcast on radio, on 12 February 1924, he became the first President of the United States to deliver a political speech on radio, and only ten days thereafter, on 22 February, he also became the first to deliver such a speech from the White House.

Related Topics:
Calvin Coolidge - 12 February - 1924 - 22 February - White House

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Herbert Hoover

Herbert Hoover stated in 1928, "We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land." He ran in the 1928 election on the platform of wiping out poverty. Ironically, within months of his election, the stock market crashed, and the national economy spiraled downward into what became known as the Great Depression.

Related Topics:
Herbert Hoover - Poverty - Platform - Ironically - Stock market - Great Depression

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Fall of labor unions

Several labor strikes in 1918 and 1919 marked a turning point in American's view of labor unions. State militias began to be used to break up strikes and state officials started enacting criminal laws against disturbances. Labor union membership died drastically througout the country. Radical unionism (see Industrial Workers of the World) declined as well, in large part due to repression during World War I by means of the Espionage Act and the Sedition Act of 1918. Socialist Eugene V. Debs was imprisoned for 10 years as a result of the latter.

Related Topics:
Labor strikes - Labor unions - Militias - Criminal laws - Industrial Workers of the World - Espionage Act - Sedition Act of 1918 - Eugene V. Debs

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International influence