Assingments % - Unit 5.1 DB: Politics and Economics of the 1920sUnit 5.1 DB: Politics and Economics of the 1920s

During the 1920s, the U.S. government, under the guidance of Harding and Coolidge, took a backseat in issues pertaining to the economy. They believed in capitalism as the driving force behind the economy and decreased regulation by the federal government. During this period, big businesses regained a lot of power and grew exponentially, labor unions became ineffective without the support of government regulations, and consumer spending increased. While the economy looked great, warning signs pointed to problems that will eventually lead to the stock market crash and the Great Depression of the 1930s.

After analyzing the political and economic policies of Harding and Coolidge, do you believe the federal government of the 1920s could have taken a more active role in helping to regulate the economy and would this have prevented the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression? Is it the government’s responsibility to be involved in the economy? Support your answer with specific examples and make sure to cite all of your sources.

++++when you do this one can you use something from my Readings and Resources++++

Readings and Resources

eBook:

Hamby, A.L., Neely, M.S., & Clack, G. (2009). Outline of U.S. history. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Chapter 10: War, Prosperity, and Depression, pp. 144-148
- Read the following sections: The Booming 1920s, Tensions Over Immigration, Clash of Cultures, The Great Depression
Chapter 11: The New Deal and World War II, pp. 149-154
- Read the following sections: Roosevelt and the New Deal, The First New Deal, Industry and Labor, The Second New Deal

Gorman, R.F. (2007). Great events from history. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press.

U.S. Stock Market Crashes, pp. 2331-2334
Great Depression, pp. 2335-2339

Rauchway, E. (2008). The Great Depression and the New Deal: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Chapter 2: The Hoover Years, pp.23-37
Chapter 3:Americans in the Depression, pp. 38-52
Chapter 4: Reflation and Relief, pp. 56-70
Chapter 5: Managing the Farm and Factory, pp. 72-86

Articles, Websites, and Videos:

The following are sample audio files from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats.

Roosevelt, F.D. (1933). First Inaugural Address. [Audio file]. University of Virginia.
Roosevelt, F.D. (1933). Fireside Chat 1: On the Banking Crisis. [Audio file]. University of Virginia.
Roosevelt, F.D. (1933). Fireside Chat 2: On Progress During the First Two Months. [Audio file]. University of Virginia.
Roosevelt, F.D. (1936). Firesdie Chat 8: On Farmers and Laborers. [Audio file]. University of Virginia.
Roosevelt, F.D. (1937). Second Inaugural Address. [Audio file]. University of Virginia.

This video is an overview of the social, political, and economic times of the 1920s.