Presidents

Warren G. Harding (1921–1923)

• Return to Normalcy: Advocated for a return to pre-WWI conservatism, focusing on business and limited government.

• Teapot Dome Scandal: His administration was marred by corruption scandals, especially regarding the leasing of oil reserves.

• Economic Growth: Supported tax cuts for businesses, which spurred economic growth in the 1920s.

4. Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929)

• Economic Policies: Advocated for tax cuts, limited government, and "laissez-faire" capitalism.

• Coolidge Prosperity: Presided over a booming economy in the 1920s.

• Limited Government: Believed in minimal government intervention in business and the economy.

• Immigration Restrictions: Signed the Immigration Act of 1924, which limited immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.

5. Herbert Hoover (1929–1933)

• Great Depression: Hoover was president when the stock market crash of 1929 occurred, leading to the Great Depression.

• Public Works: Tried to stimulate the economy through public works projects like the Hoover Dam.

• Smoot-Hawley Tariff (1930): Raised tariffs on imports, worsening the global economic situation.

• Response to the Depression: He believed the economy would self-correct, but his policies were widely criticized as ineffective.

6. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945)

• New Deal: Introduced sweeping reforms to combat the Great Depression, including Social Security, unemployment benefits, and the creation of numerous agencies (e.g., WPA, CCC, and TVA).

• World War II Leadership: Led the U.S. through most of WWII, with key events like the attack on Pearl Harbor (1941) and the D-Day invasion (1944).

• Four Terms: Elected to four terms (1932, 1936, 1940, 1944), the only president to serve more than two terms.

• Fireside Chats: Used radio to communicate directly with the American public.

• Economic Recovery: Helped pull the U.S. out of the Depression, though some programs were controversial (e.g., deficit spending).

7. Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)

• End of WWII: Made the decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan’s surrender.

• Marshall Plan (1948): Provided economic aid to Western Europe to help rebuild after WWII.

• Cold War: Confronted the Soviet Union and the spread of communism; introduced the Truman Doctrine to contain communism in Greece and Turkey.

• Korean War (1950–1953): Oversaw U.S. involvement in the Korean War, supporting South Korea against North Korea and China.

• Fair Deal: Proposed health care and civil rights reforms, though many were blocked by Congress.