1920s Politics, Economy, and Social Movements: Key Events and Policies

Return to Normalcy

Harding's campaign promise to bring America back to pre-WWI conditions.

Laissez-Faire

Hands-off government policy favored by 1920s Republican presidents.

Coolidge

Massachusetts governor who fired striking Boston police; later became president.

Kellogg-Briand Pact

International agreement making offensive wars illegal.

Stimson Doctrine

U.S. policy stating it wouldn't recognize territorial claims made by force (violating the Kellogg-Briand Pact).

Hoover's Plan

Encouraged business leaders to voluntarily cooperate to solve economic problems.

Coolidge Tax Cuts

Reduced taxes on the wealthy and businesses.

McNary-Haugen Bill

Proposed price supports for struggling farmers; vetoed by Coolidge.

Agricultural Depression

Farm prices dropped nearly 60% due to overproduction after WWI.

Installment Buying

Buying on credit: 'buy now, pay later.'

Advertising & Psychology

Used consumer desires for youth, beauty, and wealth to drive spending.

Yellow-Dog Contracts

Agreements where employees promised not to join unions.

Coal Miners' Strike

Led by John L. Lewis.

Boston Police Strike

All participants were fired; National Guard replaced them.

Steel Mill Strike

Failed because employers used 'scabs' (temporary workers).

Labor Union Weaknesses

Excluded Black Americans, ignored farmers, lacked diverse communication.

Scabs

Replacement workers hired during strikes.

Sacco and Vanzetti

Italian immigrants executed for robbery/murder with only circumstantial evidence; symbolized anti-immigrant prejudice.

Teapot Dome Scandal

Harding's Secretary of the Interior, Albert Fall, sold government oil lands for profit.

Ohio Gang

Harding's corrupt group of friends in his cabinet.

Dawes Plan

U.S. loaned money to Germany to help them pay WWI reparations.

NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

First major civil rights group; founded by W.E.B. Du Bois; published The Crisis magazine.

UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association)

Founded by Marcus Garvey; promoted Black pride and economic independence.

Black Star Line

Shipping company founded by Garvey to support Black-owned business and a 'Back to Africa' movement.

Garvey's Fate

Convicted of mail fraud and deported to Jamaica.

Black Separatist Movement

Promoted self-reliance and independence for African Americans.

Red Scare

Fear of the spread of communism.

Nativism

Anti-immigrant sentiment that led to restrictions and KKK resurgence.

KKK Revival

Expanded beyond the South into the North and Midwest; promoted racism and xenophobia.

Quota System (Immigration Act of 1924)

Limited immigration to 3% from each European nation and banned Japanese immigrants.

Women's Suffrage

Gained with the 19th Amendment.

The Crisis

Magazine of the NAACP.

Negro World

Magazine of the UNIA.

IWW (Industrial Workers of the World)

Socialist labor union aiming to unite all workers.

Tulsa Race Riot (1921)

Deadliest racial riot in U.S. history; destruction of Black Wall Street.

Palmer Raids

Government crackdowns on suspected communists and radicals led by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer.