The 1920 general election featured a greatly divided country on issues ranging on race, healthcare, foreign policy, and reactions to reforms brought on by the Progressive Era<youtube>https://www. It was also the first election women could vote; however, many issues that affected the race had to do with long standing debate and the general mood after a tumultuous World War and the lingering effects of the Flu pandemic that first struck in 1918youtube.com/watch?v=t7ZJOhvGqss</youtube>__NOTOC__
==The Presidential Candidates 1920 general election featured a greatly divided country on issues ranging from race, healthcare, foreign policy, and Issues==reactions to reforms brought on by the Progressive Era. It was also the first election women could vote; however, many issues that affected the race had to do with the long-standing debate and the general mood after a tumultuous World War and the lingering effects of the Flu pandemic that first struck in 1918.
====The Presidential Candidates and Issues====[[File:america_first.jpeg|400px|thumbnail|left|Figure 1. An America First Campaign slogan. ]]William Harding and Calvin Coolidge, in 1920, led the Republican ticket and James Cox and Franklin Roosevelt led the Democrats. For the Republicans, Harding was a surprise choice. It was a negotiated nomination that was done during the 1920 Chicago Republican Convention. Rather than having a primary election, nominations were secured by delegates who often negotiated for their votes. Harding was seen as a compromise candidate. For the Democrats, James Cox was chosen as other candidates seemed contentious, while Roosevelt was nominated as the Vice-Presidential pick, as he was a rising star within the party at the time and his relation to his somewhat distant cousin Theodore Roosevelt also helped secure his nomination.<ref>For more on the 1920 election, see: Pietrusza, D., 2007. <i>1920: the year of the six presidents</i>, 1st Carroll & Graf ed. ed. Carroll & Graf Publishers, New York. </ref>
The main issues included For the economyDemocrats, which had severely contracted after the War-time boom. The country James Cox was also recovering from the effects of the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic. The Republicans campaigned on the theme of 'returning to normalcy' as they argued Woodrow Wilson's attempts to get the United States to join the League of Nations, which they saw chosen as chaotic and could potentially drag the US into European affairs, and other issues, including race riots and a declining economy supporting their themecandidates seemed contentious. The Progressive Era had seen many reforms to limit At the effect of industrialization, but business and other interests were eager to push back. In a famous speech by Hardingsame time, he stated: 'America's present need is not heroics but healing; not nostrums but normalcy; not revolution but restoration...not surgery but serenity.' In 1920, there Roosevelt was a bombing on Wall Street nominated as political tensions grew between leftthe Vice-leaning and right-leaning Americans. Unemployment was high as the economy faced a decline in production after the War and weakness influenced by the 1918 PandemicPresidential pick, to some extent. Race riots had affected many cities in the United States, with mostly large white mobs attacking or instigating blacks in urban regions. The Red Scare had also begun as Russia had become the first declared Communist country and the Palmer Raids, which were violent policing raids against anarchist and left-leaning groups, stoked tensions in cities. It he was also a year of disastrous weather, with violent tornadoes striking rising star within the party at the South time and Midwest killing nearly 400 people on Palm Sunday. Healthcare his relation to his somewhat distant cousin Theodore Roosevelt also became an increasingly important issue. The American Association for Labor Legislation support compulsory health insurance to protect workers, similar to reforms in Europe. However, a coalition of physicians, businesses, insurance companies, and conservative legislators worked to denounce any healthcare reform, calling such reforms "Bolshevism" or "socialized medicinehelped secure his nomination." <ref>For more on key issues of the 1920 election, see: NicholsPietrusza, C.MD., Unger, N.C. (Eds.), 20172007. <i>A companion to 1920: the year of the gilded age and progressive era, Wiley Blackwell companions to American historysix presidents</i>, 1st Carroll & Graf ed. John Wiley ed. Carroll & Sons IncGraf Publishers, Hoboken, pg. 368New York. </ref>
The idea of normalcy did resonate with a large part main issues included the economy, which had severely contracted after the Wartime boom. The country was also recovering from the effects of the electorate1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic. The Democrats were torn in many ways Republicans campaigned on the theme of 'returning to normalcy' as a party. they argued Woodrow Wilson had made promises to key constituencies such as Irish-Americans in supporting Ireland's independence from Britain, which he reneged during attempts to get the Versailles Treaty negotiations. In fact, it was likely German-Americans and Irish-Americans opposition United States to join the League of Nations that heavily contributed to , which they saw as chaotic and could potentially drag the United States staying out of this international body. Many press observers noted that the country was divided US into European affairs, and the other issues were less important than the cultural differences that emerged in the electorate. Accusations of fake news or false rumors were thrown as accusations between the parties. Interestingly, with advertising money now emerging as a major factor in the including raceriots, Harding came up with a new slogan he declining economy supporting their theme, and his donors circulated widely during reforms causing major problems for the election year, which was "America First (Figure 1)country." On The Progressive Era had seen many reforms to limit the Democratic sideeffect of industrialization, the party attempted to use wide-scale racial prejudice but business and other interests were eager to inspire their basepush back. The had called In a famous speech by Harding as someone with , he stated: "Negro blood."<refblockquote>For more on the major parties in the period, see: Conlin, J"America's present need is not heroics but healing; not nostrums but normalcy; not revolution but restoration.R., 2014. <i>The American past: a survey of American history</i>. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, Boston, MA, pg. 640not surgery but serenity. "</refblockquote>
[[File:america_firstIn 1920, Wall Street was bombing as political tensions grew between left-leaning and right-leaning Americans. Unemployment was high as the economy faced a decline in production after the War and weakness influenced by the 1918 Pandemic, to some extent. Race riots had affected many cities in the United States, with mostly large white mobs attacking or instigating blacks in urban regions. The Red Scare had also begun as Russia had become the first declared Communist country, and the Palmer Raids, which were violent policing raids against anarchist and left-leaning groups, stoked tensions in cities. It was also a year of disastrous weather, with violent tornadoes striking the South and Midwest, killing nearly 400 people on Palm Sunday.jpeg|400px]]
==Healthcare also became an increasingly important issue. The Results American Association for Labor Legislation supported compulsory health insurance to protect workers, similar to Europe's reforms. However, a coalition of physicians, businesses, insurance companies, and conservative legislators worked to denounce any healthcare reform, calling such reforms "Bolshevism" or "socialized medicine." <ref>For more on key issues of the 1920 election, see: Nichols, C.M., Unger, N.C. (Eds.), 2017. <i>A companion to the Election==gilded age and progressive era, Wiley Blackwell companions to American history</i>. John Wiley & Sons Inc, Hoboken, pg. 368. </ref>
As this was the first election that women could vote, The idea of normalcy did resonate with a large part of the increase in the vote from 1916 was almost 8 million votes, to over 26 million votes castelectorate. The Democrats were defeated torn in many ways as a landslide, with mainly Southern states supporting the party, while Northern states and major cities greatly supporting the Republicanswhich weakened their opposition. Overall, Harding Wilson had about 60% of the vote, winning 531 made promises to 236 key constituencies such as Irish-Americans in supporting Ireland's independence from Britain, which he reneged during the Electoral CollegeVersailles Treaty negotiations. The Republicans also gained control It was likely German-Americans and Irish-Americans' opposition to the League of Nations that heavily contributed to the House, obtaining 303 seats United States staying out of 435. Similarly, in the Senate they had 59 of the 100 seats. With this congressional international body and presidential control, the Republicans were able to control legislation and government not only limited their support for the next four years but maintained most control of government until 1932Democrats.
==Many press observers noted that the country was divided, and the issues were less important than the cultural differences that emerged in the electorate. Accusations of fake news or false rumors were thrown as accusations between the parties. Interestingly, with advertising money now emerging as a major factor in the race, Harding came up with a new slogan he and his donors circulated widely during the election year, which was "America First (Figure 1)." On the Democratic side, the party attempted to use wide-scale racial prejudice to inspire their base. The Long-Term Impact==had called Harding as someone with "Negro blood."<ref>For more on the major parties in the period, see: Conlin, J.R., 2014. <i>The American past: a survey of American history</i>. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, Boston, MA, pg. 640. </ref>
====The long-term impact is Results of the United States did begin to emerge from Election====[[File:election1920.png|400px|thumbnail|left|Figure 2. Presidential election results of 1920. ]]As this was the 1920 recession in a stronger economic footingfirst election that women could vote, ushering in the "Roaring 20svote from 1916 was almost 8 million votes, to over 26 million votes cast." Consumer spending increased dramatically, particularly as new technologies The Democrats were defeated in automobilesa landslide, telephones, movies, radio, and electrical appliances becoming widespread consumer products. The consumption led to with mainly Southern states supporting the 1929 Wall Street Crashparty, as heavy debt while Northern states and under-performing assets based on declining spending led to not only the crash but the beginning of what would become major cities greatly supporting the Great DepressionRepublicans.
The electionOverall, while immediately a disaster for Harding had about 60% of the Democratsvote, led winning 404 to 127 in the rise Electoral College. The Republicans also gained control of Franklin Rooseveltthe House, who was seen as a positive figure throughout the campaign. He became the governor obtaining 303 seats out of New York from 1928-1932 before then running for President in 1932435. Th Eighteenth Amendment was passed in 1920Similarly, leading to the era of Prohibition that also sparked increases in gang and organized crime violence during the 1920s. Race tensions increasedSenate, but the Great Migration they had 59 of African Americans increased to major urban centers throughout the United States100 seats. Economic policies With this congressional and performance did help to accelerate this processpresidential control, as the booming economy helped Republicans were able to accelerate control legislation and government not only for the process. Healthcare continued to be a major debate point in the 1920s, as economic inequality increased. However, no reform was achieved and next four years but maintained most debate was left in academic circles rather than brought to control of the public.<ref>For more on the election's impact, see: Brown, C., 1991. <i>Ballots of tumult: a portrait of volatility in American voting</i>. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, pg. 130.</ref>government until 1932 (Figure 2)
==Summary==The Long-Term Impact====The long-term impact is the United States did begin to emerge from the 1920 recession on a stronger economic footing, ushering in the "Roaring Twenties." Consumer spending increased dramatically, particularly as new technologies in automobiles, telephones, movies, radio, and electrical appliances becoming widespread consumer products. The consumption-led to the 1929 Wall Street Crash, as heavy debt and under-performing assets based on declining spending, led to not only the crash but the beginning of what would become the Great Depression.
There are aspects of While immediately a disaster for the Democrats, the 1920 election that look oddly familiar led to us. For instancethe rise of Franklin Roosevelt, the slogan 'America First' who was also then used seen as a key Republican slogan. It was positive figure throughout the Democrats who were portrayed 1920 campaign as he traveled the party that created chaos, and country. He became the Republicans were successful governor of New York from 1928-1932 before then running for President in portraying themselves as the part of normalcy1932. Similar tensions on healthcareThe Eighteenth Amendment was passed in 1920, lingering effects of a major pandemic, race riots, and economic decline would leading to Prohibition's era that also be familiar to us, while fake news accusations were common, including sparked increases in gang and organized crime violence during the new medium of radio1920s. Perhaps Race tensions increased, but the biggest difference was women having the right Great Migration of African Americans increased to vote for major urban centers throughout the first time and ultimately the election ushered the beginning of what emerged as the Roaring TwentiesUnited States, reorganizing demographics.
Economic policies and performance helped accelerate this process, as the booming economy helped accelerate migration to urban regions. Healthcare continued to be a major debate point in the 1920s, as economic inequality increased. However, no reform was achieved, and most of the debate was left in academic circles rather than brought to the public.<ref>For more on the election's impact, see: Brown, C., 1991. <i>Ballots of tumult: a portrait of volatility in American voting</i>. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, pg. 130.</ref> ====Summary====There are aspects of the 1920 election that look oddly familiar to us. For instance, the slogan 'America First' was also then used as a key Republican slogan. The Democrats were portrayed as the party that created chaos, and the Republicans were successful in portraying themselves as the part of normalcy. Similar tensions on healthcare, lingering effects of a major pandemic, race riots, and economic decline would also be familiar to us. At the same time, fake news accusations were common, including in the new medium of radio. Perhaps the biggest difference was women having the right to vote for the first time, and ultimately the election ushered the beginning of what emerged as the Roaring Twenties. ====References====<references/> [[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:United States History]] [[Category:20th Century History]]
