President Warren G. Harding (November 2, 1865 - August 2, 1923) Term: March 4, 1921 - August 2, 1923 Political Party: Republican Vice-President: Calvin Coolidge Major Domestic Policy: As a Republican, Harding was for increasing the protective tariff. Harding also enforced new immigration laws. The Fordney-McCumber tariff was established and became one of the highest tariffs ever. This tariff was even higher then the Payne-Aldrich tariff during Taft's presidency. Instead of helping the economy, the Fordney-McCumber tariff was a cause of the Great Depression. It caused other countries to increase their rates. The country was no in conditions similar to the start of World War I. Wartime controls were removed, the Fordney-McCumber tariff was established and immigration was restricted. Harding realized all of the flaws in the government that needed to be fixed but he passed away before he go the chance to use his power. The Teapot Dome scandal also occurred during Harding's presidency when Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall leased an oil reserve in east Wyoming to Harry F. Sinclair's oil company in 1921. Harding also signed the Budget and Accounting Act, which created the modern federal budget and required the President to give notice to Congress an annual budget of the federal government. Major Foreign Policy: Harding aimed towards satisfying the isolationist ideas when staying out of the League of Nations and to stay out of foreign affairs and focusing on domestic issues in order to prevent any new war from starting. From 1921 to 1922, the Washington Conference occurred to lessen tensions in the Far East and disarmament movement. The conference created peace but also resulted with the rise of the Japanese naval power. Court Case: ⢠Bailey v. Drexel Furniture Co. (1922)-Held that Child Labor Tax Law violated the Constitution because it infringed upon the states right to create and impose child labor codes. ⢠Stafford v. Wallace (1922)-Upheld the Packers and Stockyards Act because it regulated the meatpacking industry, which was part of the interstate commerce from beef to ranchers to dinner tables. ⢠Massachusetts v. Mellon (1923)-Stated that this case was a issue for the public. ⢠Meyer v. Nebraska (1923)-Held that the Nebraska Law was unconstitutional under the Due Process clause of the 14th Amendment because it prohibited the teaching of foreign languages to children in school. Intellectual and Social Developments: ⢠The Republicans gained a majority of the political power and became the dominant influence. ⢠The Prohibition began in 1920 and lasted till 1933. ⢠The National Government began working with business and formed a Business-government partnership. ⢠The Economy saw a recession from 1920 to 1921 until the booming prosperity from 1922 to 1929, which was then the start of the Great Depression. ⢠There was a rise of welfare capitalism ⢠There was a prominent rise in consumer culture through such things like advertising, radio, magazines and movies, which also promoted the flapper image for Women. ⢠The Jazz Age, Harlem Renaissance, and the Lost Generation came about as new ideas and intellectual life flourished. Harding's Legacy: Harding's presidency will always be remembered for the first election in which women voted. His presidency will also be known for holding the first international conference in the United States and first disarmament movement. Some believe that Harding's presidency was the worst of all presidencies because of the fact that he was not a effective communicator or a deep thinker, was always indecisive and instead of working towards helping the issues, he just avoided them. Now, he is given recognition for his progressive ideas on race and civil rights.
