2. HARDING, COOLIDGE, AND HOOVER
ADMINISTRATIONS
Political party: Republican
Harding is inaugurated as the 29th president, served from 1921-
1923
Harding appointed Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes, a
former Supreme Court justice and presidential candidate; Secretary
of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, a Pittsburgh alum and banking
magnate and reportedly the richest man in America; and Secretary
of Commerce Herbert Hoover, a dynamic multimillionaire mine
owner who was famous for wartime relief efforts.
Weak-willed president whose easygoing ways opened the door to
widespread corruption in his administration.
3. The Harding Scandals and the Bonus
Bill veto
One of the most known scandals was the Teapot Dome Scandal that happened
in the early 1920s. When Warren G. Harding was president, his Secretary of the
Interior, Albert Fall, received bribes from oil companies to lease oil reserves
that had been allocated to the U.S. Navy.
Veteran’s Bureau Scandal. The head of the agency intended to assist ex-
servicemen embroiled in corrupt practices and served time in federal prison.
Justice Department Scandal. Harding’s political mentor and closet advisor
headed a corrupt Department of Justice, but twice was acquitted by juries.
Alien Property Custodian Scandal. The head of an important federal oversight
agency was imprisoned for corrupt practices.
Bonus Bill veto was a U.S federal law passed in May 19, 1924. it created a
benefit plan for World War I veterns as additional compensation for their
military service.
4. HARDING, COOLIDGE, AND HOOVER
ADMINISTRATIONS
Coolidge is sworn in on August 3, 1923
Served two terms.
Tight-lipped Vermonter who promoted frugality and pro-business
policies during his presidency
In his State of the Union Address, Coolidge pledges his support for
prohibition, tax cuts, U.S participation in the World Court, and his
opposition to federal regulation of business.
In 1926, Coolidge signs the Revenue Act, which cuts income taxes
and shrinks the size of the federal government.
5. HARDING, COOLIDGE, AND HOOVER
ADMINISTRATIONS
Inauguration: March 4, 1929
in 1929, Hoover signs the Agricultural Marketing Act, creating
a Federal farm Board to promote agricultural commodity
marketing by extending loans to cooperatives.
in 1929, about 60% of American public live below the official
poverty line, stock prices reach an all-time high. The soaring
stock market leads Hoover to state that Americans had won
“the final triumph over poverty”.
In 1930, the stock market crashes and the Great Depression
begins.
6. Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act – June 1930
During WWI, countries outside Europe increased their agricultural production.
After the war, European producers stepped up their production. This led to
massive agricultural overproduction.
Hoover pledged to aid American farmers by raising tariff levels on agricultural
products as part of his 1928 election campaign.
The tariff was largely protested by economists yet Hoover signed it into law on
June 1930.
It established some of the highest rates in history on 60% of all imported items.
The act was supposed to encourage the purchase of American made products
by increasing the cost of imported goods, while raising revenue for the federal
government and protecting farmers. It was supposed to help the Depression.
7. Outcome and Consequences
Because economic depression was spread throughout the
world, other nations increased tariffs on American goods in
retaliation and thus, creating a trade war.
It reduced international trade by 66% and worsened the
Depression.
The act created distrust among nations leading to less
cooperation in either the political or economic areas.
This act was not the initial cause of the Depression.
8. The effects of the Nineteenth
Amendment on society
The Nineteenth Amendment guaranteed the right for women to
vote.
It was ratified on August 18, 1920.
It came as a result of women’s suffrage movement.
It gave women the same power that men had and showed equality.
It allowed women more rights and social freedom, eventually
giving them a new image: a “flapper” woman as opposed to the
conservative, Victorian Age style.
Women gained financial independence, the number of women in
the workforce greatly increased.
Editor's Notes
In 1923, Harding died suddenly in San Francisco in August 2, 1923. Apparently of a heart attack.
