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Crisis of identity (1920-1945) - Coggle Diagram
Crisis of identity (1920-1945)
Domestic politics
Harding 1921-23
Able appointments, Shepard-Towner maternity aid act (encourage states to build matenity healthcare centres), cuts to government spending , called for increased federal government role in economics and social life, return to normalcy(little government)
Described as weak and ineffective due to his belief in ‘the return to normalcy, Teapot Dome scandal (secret leasing of federal oil reserves)
Coolidge 1923-29- Hardings vice president who inherited a booming economy and isolationist policy
Believed in little government intervention- ‘the business of America is business’ meant low taxation, low interest rates and minimum government spending
Nicknamed ‘silent cal’ and did little to address problems in America
Laissez-faire government meant Federal trade commission and price fixing could not operate effectively
Hoover
Elected in 1928, he was optimistic about the economic boom lasting and argued the US had ended poverty until the wsc in 1929 proved that lassiez faire government was inefficient
republican conservatism was based on lassiez fair government and non-intervention
Great depression was an economic depression in which the GDP decreased by half
response of hoover
international trade
add high tariffs which actually decreased international trade as foreign clients couldn't afford it
repudiation of war debts
halt repayment for 18 months to get nations to trade
unemployment relief
presidents emergency relief committee
federal home loan bank act 1932-proviude mortgages
reconstruction finance corporation- lend money to financial institutions
emergency relief construction act- financed public works that would provide employment
US foreign policy
The USA refused to join the League of Nations some suggest this is due to their policy of isolationism, others argue this is impossible as the US was too large and powerful to every be isolationist
Aims
Remove themselves from any conflict, fear of communism, prevent naval arms race and remain greatest navy, maintain open door and Monroe doctrine
Washington conference
Reasons for the conference include prevent anglo-Japanese alliance, maintain open door policy with china, fear of Japanese influence
achievements: disarmament agreement, four power treaty
limitations: no limits on size of armies, no method of enforcement
Kellogg-Briand pact 1928
agreed not to wage war except in self-defence
The USA and Europe
Loans
US prepared to help countries recover after the war and to prevent spread of communism. They insisted all debts had to be repaid
FDR and the new deals
FDR promised a new deal when elected in 1932 to achieve goals of relief, reform and recovery. FDR was a fiscal conservative and so avoided government spending and remained a balanced budget. He was a liked charismatic president completing ‘fireside chats’ on the radio
The first new deal
The first hundred days saw the most legislation in US history including alphabet agencies and emergency legislation
Banking and finance- Emergency banking relief act (ERBA) investigated banks Security exchange commission regulated the stock exchange by preventing fraud
Emergency relief
Federal emergency relief administration (FERA) divided $500 million decided between states to relieve unemployed and states were given $1 for everyone $3 of their own funds spend on relief
6 Alphabet agencies
Farmers
Agricultural adjustment act (AAA) paid farmers to produce less
Industry
National industry recovery act (NIRA) set up the National recovery Administration (NRA) to facilitate industrial recovery- workings conditions and product standards
Public works
NIRA set up Public works administration to create permanent jobs but actually on provided temporary relief, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) provided young people with experience on jobs involving public works
Impact
First time government gave relief, restored confidence in economy, funding insufficient for scale of problem, set president for role of government