1920s Political Events

Jan. 29, 1919 - The 18th Amendment

• Prohibited the sale, transport, or consumption of alcohol
• The National Prohibition Act commonly know as The Volstead Act was the specifications and enabling power for the 18th Amendment
• The prohibition lead to a rise in the value of alcohol
• Spawned organized crime gangs that were based on illegal liquor money
• Repealed on Dec. 5, 1933

Aug. 18, 1920 - The 19th Amendment

• Provided for woman's suffrage
• It prohibits the denial of any US citizens right to vote based on gender
• This new "free" woman helped usher in the era of the flapper
• Women had protested, marched, and rallied for women's rights since the 1800s
• Before being passed by Congress and ratified by all states, the states were a mix of whether or not women had equal voting rights
• The western states all permitted women to vote, and it slowly got less likely as you went east and south

 1920 - Warren G Harding' Presidential Election

• Republican candidate
• Wins popular vote by 60%
• Wins electoral vote by 75%
• Considered corrupt by many historians
• Elected his followers into high positions in the White House
• Aug 2, 1923 dies in a hotel room of stroke
• Vice President Coolidge becomes President after him

May 21, 1927 - Charles Lindbergh

• Flies solo across the Atlantic
• Becomes a national hero
• Entire country rallies in support/proudness behind him
• The event was not amazingly significant, but the nationalism and patriotism it inspire in America was

September 1929 - Stock Market Crash

• The crash of the market signals the start of the Great Depression
• A large part of the crash was due to the increase in Americans buying stock
• Investors purchased large amount of stock on credit, then when the realization that all the stocks were inflated, they began to loos value rapidly
• The over-extension of many people financially led to a loss of jobs
• The boss couldn't afford to hire people and even fired workers
• Factory and construction industry and jobs were said to be hit the hardest