Front Porch Campaign Essay

During the election year of 1920, America wanted to relax and enjoy winning the war and American life, so people rallied behind Warren G. Harding of Ohio who promised to restore “normalcy” to the country. Though seen as a good man, he was corrupt, did not have strong principles, and scandals arose in his 3rd year of presidency. In 1923, he died of food poisoning while making a trip to the west coast to give speeches. Harding’s vice president, Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts, took over and was very shy and laid-back approach to the presidency which was good because the economy was doing fine. He won again in 1924. However, there were still issues occurring in the nation such as the Prohibition, the decline of morality, and the rise of atheism.

The 1920s was nicknamed the “Roaring Twenties” because every action had a voice. Every event or amendment was supported by some type of individual or group. Certain individuals made opportunity for American citizens, such as Henry Ford. Because of business leaders like him, Americans once confined to their city of work, can now live miles away. This era was full of trial and error. Trial and error can be supported by the fact that a new amendment repealed a past amendment. America was shaped politically by Congress, stereotypes, and mass production. The 1920s wouldn’t be the same without the leading automobile industry, “New Women”, and the Eighteenth Amendment.

In the book, America’s Great War: World War I and the American Experience, Robert H. Zieger discusses the events between 1914 through 1920 forever defined the United States in the Twentieth Century. When conflict broke out in Europe in 1914, the President, Woodrow Wilson, along with the American people wished to remain neutral. In the beginning of the Twentieth Century United States politics was still based on the “isolationism” ideals of the previous century. The United States did not wish to be involved in European politics or world matters. The U.S. goal was to expand trade and commerce throughout the world and protect the borders of North America.

As a nation coming out of a devastating war, America faced many changes in the 1920s. It was a decade of growth and improvements. As immigrants fled from Europe, the economy improved, and new machines offered convenience and luxury from the kitchen to the streets. However, with all change comes opposition. The 1920s revealed a conflict between traditional America and the new attitude and lifestyle through the changing role of women, continued dominance of Christian values, and racism.

Throughout the 1920's and after World War II., America faced many problems economically and socially. The Republican Party had been always one of the largest parties in United States; therefore, Republican presidents have maintained a big role in the administration of United States either before and World War I or after World War II. The Republican presidents in the 1920's were Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. Whereas the 3 Republican presidents elected after World War 2 were Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan. In both periods, these Republican presidents have similarities and differences in domestic and foreign policies. In addition, during and between these periods some events such as Great Depression,

The 1920s, often referred to as the Roaring Twenties, was a time of great change and a time of powerful enthusiasm in many areas of society. The world had just finished the biggest war in history, the First World War, and the United States was left almost unharmed by the war. The United States was able to experience a decade of peace and success following the war. During this decade, America became the wealthiest country in the world (Trueman, 2000). The people in the United States went through a colorful period during the twenties. However, at the same time the 1920s was also a very rebellious and difficult time for many. The culture of the 1920s has influenced the culture of America’s society today.

In the years following World War I, the United States was comfortable with returning to its prior state of traditional values. In the government, this was reflected as the 1920 election was won by Republican candidate Harding, who ran with the slogan “A Return to Normalcy.” Americans simply wanted to recuperate after the intense global conflict that had just ended; however, changing and new attitudes were at battle with their desire of normalcy. It was movements like “New Morality” that contested traditional stances of those who sought security in their lives. As a result of the constant battle between old and new values, tensions were mounting between citizens. The Roaring Twenties was a time of innovation in American life; however, tensions surfaced between traditional and new values, shown through court rooms, national politics, grass roots campaigns, and media revolutions, due to a rise in differing theological views, women’s fight for independence, racial conflict, technology, and advertising.

The 1920s was a major turning point in American history. Known as “the roaring twenties”, the citizens of the United States enjoyed the new found wealth from the economic turnaround. The United States’ wealth more than doubled as the nation turned into a consumer society. Not all Americans were fond of the changes in society, and not all of the changes were good.

In the 1920s, Americans were trying to figure out what was everyone’s role in society. During this time women started to take on bigger jobs then housekeeping and African Americans are finally standing up for their race. Once 1929 hit, Herbert Hoover, America’s newest president, was viewed as an ‘American Superhero’ at that time because of everything he promised society; however, America gets hit by the Great Depression leaving society in a hole. While banking systems were unstable and overproduction were leaving people bankrupt, Herbert Hoover was blaming Europe and was failing to keep society financially stable. As his presidency went on, filmmakers made film cycles and gangster pictures like Little Caesar that portrayed America’s corrupt society during the Great Depression. By the end of his campaign, Hoover was known as the worst American ever which led to the rising of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Roosevelt saw the struggling society as an opportunity to help his campaign in which he created the New Deal. America was given an opportunity that allowed them to look forward to the future. During Herbert Hoover’s presidency, America did not support the federal government, but after Franklin D. Roosevelt ran for president and promised a New Deal, they began to look more favorably on the government.

The 1920s, also known as the “Roaring Twenties”, was a time period of great prosperity. During the 1920s, major changes occurred. The Twenties marked the start of a new lifestyle for the world, in which styles such as appearances were different, the system of money changed, and things were viewed much differently than they were in past generations. There was a major shift in living conditions when people went from living in rural areas to urban areas, in which the “big city” became the center of affairs. Although the 1920s were a new and exciting time period, they caused much conflict for the people of past generations who were not used to this great change.

The 1920 presidential was a significant piece of history for many reasons. The roaring 1920 election had many rising issues in concurrence. There were many controversial topics such as a recent prohibition of alcohol, the fear of communism, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. In these very difficult times, America encounters one of the most revealing elections in United States. This election comes post-WWI and one of the most liberal ideological presidents in the United States history, President Woodrow Wilson.

During the Progressive Era, Americans faced the challenge of choosing between four strong candidates of the election of 1912. Each candidate held concrete platforms that would have different effects on progressivism. Americans could chose the conservative presidential incumbent William Howard Taft(R), the New Jersey governor Woodrow Wilson (D), the long-time fighter for social reform-Eugene V. Debs (S), or the former president Theodore Roosevelt of the newly formed Bull Moose Party (Progressive Party). Through this election many steps were taken to change the face of the election season, including women's rights, primaries, and third

The republicans un-doubly dominated the political system in the 1920’s. The republicans had 3 presidents elected in the 1920’s. These three presidents were Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. Warren G. Harding as stated in the book used clever tactics to appeal to the people using these, they also made use of advertising to its fullest extent. “While the Democrats ran an ineffective campaign, the republicans made excellent use of advertising. Of the People pg.676” It was also stated in the book that Harding feed off the negative reaction on the activist government implemented by Woodrow Wilson. “Harding Cleverly appealed to the reaction against Wilson’s activist government, offering a return to “normalcy” after years of un-settling progressive innovations. Of the People pg.676”

So finally in 1913, Congress passed the 17th amendment that called for the direct election of United States senators. Also Congress would later pass the 19th amendment which allowed women’s suffrage, or the ability to vote. Also states and people began to use the secret Australian ballot to keep the privacy of the voters. Before, big bosses and companies used to be able to scare or buy people to vote for whom they wanted, but now people could vote without the fear of being connected to their ballot. With people now voting anonymously, these businesses no longer as successful as before for they could no longer tell for whom the bribed were actually voting for. In the bar graph, it shows the gradual decrease in the number of voters who voted for the presidency (Document J). this showed how people were no longer being bribed or forced to vote for whomever the businesses wanted. This called for more fair and impartial elections for such important offices in the government. In the Washington Post 1907 article, Roosevelt is shown standing over a dead bear of bad trusts (Document A). This demonstrated Roosevelt’s attempted to rid the country of bad trusts for the good of the people. Also these reformers made great strides in the social component of the country.

The 1920’s was a great and important decade for the United States. After World War I, the United States went through events and changes that, overall, made the United States a much better place to live. New advances in technology and industry improved American life in more ways than just one. Americans had better wages during this time, more leisure time, and overall, had a better life than ever before. In addition, the 1920’s advocated social and cultural change as well. During this time period, the United States did not return to Normalcy, and instead developed attitudes that changed the life of the people of the United States forever thanks to social changes, cultural changes and changes in technology.