Between the World Wars: Developments and Events in the United States from 1921 to 1941
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Warren G. Harding's Presidency
During his presidency, the economic depression improved, which he was hailed for. However, Republicans easily got him to sign their legislation, which meant that high tariffs, strict immigration laws, lower taxes, and a federal budget plan were all established during his time. The officials beneath him created scandals by misusing their power which made things like the Teapot Dome Scandal. However, he died of a heart attack in San Fransisco before he could decide how to fix them. -
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Calvin Coolidge's Presidency
Coolidge was known as a man of few words, and his tactic as the president was to maintain a strict policy of inactivity. The Great Depression had hit farmers early, but Coolidge refused multiple attempts to give them aid. He also encouraged isolationist policies and did not interfere with businesses. Aside from the farmer population, Coolidge was grew in popularity partially because he did not employ Federal power to do much of anything. -
The Immigration Act of 1924
This act completely banned immigrants from Asia and severely limited immigration from other countries. It was simple to pass it through Congress because of the increased anxiety about national security after WW1, and it only tightened the restrictions already in place. The government wanted to preserve America's racial construct and decrease the number of immigrants flooding the country. -
The Dawes Plan
Led by Charles Dawes, this plan helped Germany by reducing its initial reparation payments to the Allies since it was struggling with hyperinflation and economic crises after WW1. To pay off all the debts, the payments were arranged to slowly increase as the German economy improved. Additionally, the U.S. gave Germany massive loans to help stimulate the economy and accommodate reconstruction. This plan solved the worst of the financial crisis in Europe that followed WW1. -
The Scopes Trial (aka the Monkey Trial)
John Scopes was put on trial for teaching evolution to high school students, which had been illegalized in Tennessee by the Butler Bill. It became a publicized debate between William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow. Bryan first made strong speeches in defense of the Bible while Darrow fought to defend evolution and Scopes. However, Darrow questioned Bryan on the scientific authority of the Bible, which made him falter. Both claimed victory at the end despite Scopes being found guilty. -
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Herbert Hoover's Presidency
Known for his humanitarian efforts during the Boxer rebellion and WW1, Hoover became president with the promise of prosperity. However, the U.S. spiraled into the Great Depression within a few months from stock market crashes and a fundamentally flawed economy. He tried to implement reforms and give loans, though he had opponents in Congress that hindered this. However, he believed the most help for the poor should come from local charity work, which wasn't enough. He became a scapegoat. -
The Wall Street Crash of 1929
Stock market prices dropped unexpectedly, and panic set in as investors rushed to withdraw their money and cut their losses. Stock value disintegrated, the economy crashed, and America began spiraling into the Great Depression. Although wealthy business men tried to pump money into the system to save it, it plunged on October 29, which became known as Black Tuesday. -
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act
President Hoover passed the highest tariff act in America's history in the midst of the Great Depression, hoping that it would encourage more domestic business. However, global markets also began the spiral downwards as one of the greatest producer nations, America, had thrown off the economic balance. In response to the U.S.'s high tariffs, other countries raised their own tariffs and essentially halted international trade. This only worsened the Great Depression. -
The Scottsboro Boys
In the midst of the Great Depression and the oppression of the Jim Crow laws in the south, people would often hitch rides on trains as they searched for work. Police arrested nine black youths for doing this; however, two white women on the train accused them of rape when they were questioned. Despite strong evidence against this, eight of the nine boys were sentenced to death. After years of repeated trials, none of them were killed but became symbols for the horrific racism in the south. -
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Severe Droughts in the West
Horrible droughts effected the agricultural economy in western states from Texas all the way to North and South Dakota. The dry conditions killed crops and the area became known as The Dust Bowl because of the massive dust storms that were churned up by the wind. Poor farming habits in previous years only expounded on the problems and led to a mass exodus from the states that were effected. However, there jobs were scarce everywhere because of the Great Depression. -
The First Hundred Days of FDR's New Deal
This was the time period in which most of the biggest New Deal acts and organizations were established. He created the Civilian Conservation Corps, which employed countless young men in environment care; the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, which gave immediate money to state relief efforts; the National Industrial Recovery Act removed legal blockades on business trusts and on unions for workers; the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, which helped farmer's incomes; and much more. -
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Presidency
FDR took immediate action, and his first and second New Deal enabled the economy to slow its descent and begin recovering from the Great Depression. He also transitioned the nation away from the gold standard. There was a scandal when he tried to expand the Supreme Court; however, ended up serving four terms before dying from health issues towards the end of WW2. He maintained a "good neighbor" policy and tried to keep the U.S. out of war although he ended up guiding America through much of WW2. -
The Emergency Banking Act
This was a week-long shut-down on banks that redesigned their federal protocols to be safer for investments, which FDR hoped would restore Americans faith in their banks. He used his Fireside Chats to encourage people to trust the banks and begin the flow of money in the banking system and larger economy once more. It was successful and helped to stabilize the banks. -
National Labor Retaliations Act (the Wagner Act)
This act, which was part of the Second New Deal, gave legal protection to organized labor unions. -
The Congress of Industrial Organizations
Although they were originally part of the American Federation of Labor, they were expelled and formed their own organization because the AFL was unwilling to work with unskilled laborers. The CIO quickly gained popularity from successful strikes and established their unions in major sections of the economy like the steel, car, and rubber industries. -
The Roosevelt Recession of 1937
Because of the significant improvements that the U.S. had seen over the past few years, FDR decided to cut the government's spending and let the economy continue to run without so much involvement. However, this plunged the economy back into economic crisis. FDR immediately compensated by increasing the budget once more; however, this, combined with the court-packing scandal in the same year, provided leverage for his critics. -
The Fair Labor Standards Act
This act established the minimum wage, which, aside from adjustments, is still in place today. It also placed further regulations on child labor and overtime wages. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan and America had been inching towards war for months as Japan was taken over by brutal military leaders and had turned on China. The U.S. had already begun an economic siege on Japan by blocking off its supply of American products. However, Japan decided to preemptively attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in efforts to take out the Pacific Fleet. Although many people died, the U.S. managed to recover relatively quickly. Nevertheless, the war had begun.
