A Go Back To Normality

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) The Great War America 1914–1919 A Go Back To Normality Americans had fallen short of their lofty goals by 1920 of bringing more safety and democracy to the world. The flu pandemic had shown how little science and technology could do to protect Americans from harm. The American people's dread of revolutionary politics and the continuation of bloody capital-labor disputes was symbolized by the Red Scare. Furthermore, it was evident from race riots that the country was no closer to having harmonious racial relations. Following a protracted period of Progressive policies and new government agencies, as well as an expensive war that did not result in a better world, the majority of people chose to concentrate on their own accomplishment and economic advancement. The 1920 presidential contest made it abundantly evident how weary Americans were of an interventionist government, whether it was with regard to Progressive reform or foreign participation. Republicans took advantage of this developing American attitude to locate the candidate who would guarantee a return to normalcy. They were eager to capture the presidency after eight years of Wilson idealism. Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio was the guy the Republicans had been waiting for. Harding provided the party leaders with what they wanted, despite not being the most dynamic candidate for the presidency: a around whom they could center their policies of low taxation, immigration limitation, and noninterference in international affairs. Additionally, he gave Americans what they wanted: a presidential-looking and acting candidate who would also respect their right to privacy and let them to live their lives as they saw fit. The Democratic leaders understood their chances of winning were slim. Even after his stroke, Wilson insisted that the election be a vote on his League of Nations, even though he was too sick to run for a third term. Internal political strife among his ministry, particularly between A. William McAdoo and Mitchell Palmer threatened to break the party convention until Ohio governor James Cox was identified as a compromise candidate. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a youthful Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was Cox's choice for vice presidential running partner. With 404 electoral votes to 127 in the Electoral College and 60% of the popular vote, Harding won by a landslide at a period when Americans preferred affluence and normalcy over ongoing meddling in their lives. After the war, the flu pandemic, the Red Scare, and other problems were passed, Americans eagerly anticipated President Harding's inauguration in 1921 and the beginning of the Jazz Age, a time of liberated living and excess. By 1920, American aspirations to provide more safety and democracy around the world had failed. The flu pandemic had demonstrated the limits of what science and technology could accomplish to keep Americans safe. The Red Scare served as a symbol of the American people's fear of revolutionary politics and the continuation of violent capital-labor confrontations. Race riots further demonstrated that amicable racial relations in the nation were still far off. After decades of Progressive ideas, the creation of new government agencies, and an expensive war that produced no better world, most people decided to focus on their personal achievements and economic progress. The 1920 presidential campaign demonstrated how tired Americans were of their government interfering, whether it was in the form of overseas involvement or Progressive change. Republicans looked for a leader who would ensure a return to normalcy, taking advantage of this evolving American mindset. They were desperate to unseat eight years of Wilsonian idealism in the White House. The Ohio senator Warren G. Harding was the Republican they had been hoping for. Despite not being the most charismatic presidential candidate, Harding gave the party leaders what they desired: a focal point for their principles of low taxes, restricting immigration, and staying out of foreign issues. He also delivered what the American people had long yearned for: an acting and presidentially-looking candidate who would uphold their right to privacy and allow them to live their lives as they saw appropriate. The Democratic leaders realized they had little chance of prevailing. Wilson was too ill to seek reelection a third time, but even after his stroke, he demanded that the election be a referendum on his League of Nations. Until Ohio governor James Cox was revealed as a compromise candidate, internal political fighting within his ministry—particularly between A. William McAdoo and Mitchell Palmer—threatend to dissolve the party convention. Cox selected Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a very young Assistant Secretary of the Navy, as his vice presidential running mate. At a time when Americans valued luxury and normalcy over continuous intervention in their lives, Harding won by a landslide, with 404 electoral votes to 127 in the Electoral College and 60% of the popular vote. The Jazz Age, a period of free living and extravagance, was expected by many Americans with great anticipation following President Harding's inauguration in 1921, following the end of the war, the flu epidemic, the Red Scare, and other issues.