| Republican Politics: Harding, Coolidge, Hoover (1919-1929) |
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Sections:- Warren G. Harding: Inaugural Address (Friday, March 4, 1921)
- Calvin Coolidge: Inaugural Address (Wednesday, March 4, 1925)
- Calvin Coolidge: ...at the Memorial Exercises at Arlington, Virginia (May 31, 1926)
- Herbert Clark Hoover: Inaugural Address (Monday, March 4, 1929)
- Transcript of Boulder Canyon Project Act (1928)
- Prohibition of Intoxicating Liquors: Eighteenth Amendment (1919)
- The Volstead Act (1919)
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| Historical Context
Warren G. Harding ran as the Republican candidate in 1920. His main opponent was the Democratic candidate James M. Cox. Harding ran on a pro-business platform promising tax revision, higher tariffs, limits on immigration, and some aid to farmers. In addition to this Harding called for a “return to normalcy” after the end of World War I. Cox on the other hand focused on the League of Nations that President Wilson a fellow Democrat had created. Harding won the election and was sworn in on Friday, March 4, 1921.
Attached Document
Included here are segments of his inaugural speech.
Questions to Consider
1. What do you think President Harding was referring too in the first paragraph when he said “We have seen a world passion spend its fury, but we contemplate our Republic unshaken, and hold our civilization secure?”
2. Based on the second paragraph did Harding want the US to be involved in world affairs or to stay out? What in the paragraph makes you think that?
3. What do you think Harding meant by this, “but in the new order of finance and trade we mean to promote enlarged activities and seek expanded confidence?”
4. What in this speech shows that Harding was pro-business?
5. What was Harding referring too when he said, “With the nation-wide induction of womanhood into our political life?”
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| Historical Context
Vice president Calvin Coolidge became president after the death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. Coolidge then ran for President in 1924. Coolidge like Harding was also pro-business but unlike Harding he was not very outgoing and was known as “Silent Cal.” The republicans stuck behind the pro-business because the economy was doing well with the Harding’s policies. The election was easily won by Coolidge continuing the republican line of presidents in the 20s.
Attached Document
Included here is Coolidge's Inaugural Address.
Questions to Consider
1. In the first paragraph Coolidge says, “We have sufficiently rearranged our domestic affairs so that confidence has returned, business has revived.” What do you think he is referring too?
2. In the third paragraph Coolidge mentions the Washington Conference, what was the Washington Conference?
3. After World War I the United States followed the policy of isolation. What does Coolidge say to show this?
4. What do you think Coolidge meant when he said, “This Administration has come into power with a very clear and definite mandate from the people?”
5. What does Coolidge say in this speech that shows he is pro-business?
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| Historical Context
Attached Document
The following is a speech given by President Coolidge in 1926.
Questions to consider
1) As you read this speech make a list of the different policies he mentions. What does this tell you about the Republican Party?
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| Historical Context
Herbert Hoover the Secretary of Commerce during the Coolidge administration was nominated as the Republican candidate in the 1928 election. Hoover used the apparent prosperity of the United States that had lasted during the two previous Republican presidents, Harding and Coolidge. Like the two previous Republican presidents, Hoover was also pro-business. Hoover’s main opponent was Democrat Alfred E. Smith. The Republicans ended the 1920 elections the same way they started with a win for the Republican candidate, Herbert Hoover.
Attached Document
Included here is Hoover inaugural address.
Questions to Consider
1. What words does Hoover use in the third paragraph to explain the prosperity of United States?
2. What did the Eighteenth Amendment do?
3. What did Hoover say the 1928 election confirmed?
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| Historical Context
The following is a transcript of an act that was signed by President Hoover in 1928. This act was created to build a dam in the Colorado River Basin because of the bad flooding that had taken place in the 1920s in the Colorado River Basin. In addition to flood control this dam would also provide electricity to the western states. This dam was named Hoover Dam in 1947 after President Hoover because he was so instrumental in the entire project. He started with it when he was Secretary of Commerce and signed it after he became president.
Attached Document
Included here is the transcript of the Boulder Canyon Project Act of 1928.
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The Eighteenth Amendment was passed in 1919. This Amendment started prohibition in the United States that lasted through the 1920s and was a major issue throughout the entire decade. This amendment was supposed to decrease criminal activity but it actually increased it because normally law abiding citizens were breaking the law by making, drinking or selling alcohol. President Hoover had an entire section in his inaugural speech about enforcing and abiding by the Eighteenth Amendment.
Attached Document
Included here is the text of the document.
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| Historical Context
The Volstead Act was passed also passed in 1919 to enforce the Eighteenth Amendment.
Attached Document
Included here is the text of the Volstead Act.
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