Calvin Coolidge

Definition

Calvin Coolidge was the 30th President of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929. He was known for his conservative fiscal policies and his belief in limited government intervention in the economy, which aligned with the Republican Ascendancy and the political landscape of the 1920s.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Coolidge assumed the presidency after the sudden death of Warren G. Harding in 1923 and was later elected to a full term in 1924.
2. Coolidge's administration was marked by a hands-off approach to the economy, allowing businesses to operate with minimal government regulation or interference.
3. Coolidge's policies of tax cuts, reduced government spending, and a pro-business agenda were in line with the Republican Ascendancy and the broader conservative shift in American politics during the 1920s.
4. Coolidge's famous quote, 'The business of America is business,' encapsulated his belief that the government's role should be to create a favorable environment for private enterprise to thrive.
5. Coolidge's presidency was characterized by a return to traditional values and a rejection of the progressive reforms of the previous era, which he believed had disrupted the natural order of society.

Review Questions

• Describe Coolidge's economic policies and how they aligned with the Republican Ascendancy of the 1920s.
  • Coolidge's economic policies were firmly rooted in the principles of laissez-faire capitalism, which aligned with the Republican Ascendancy's pro-business agenda during the 1920s. He advocated for tax cuts, reduced government spending, and a hands-off approach to the economy, allowing businesses to operate with minimal government regulation or interference. Coolidge's famous quote, 'The business of America is business,' encapsulated his belief that the government's role should be to create a favorable environment for private enterprise to thrive, which was a key tenet of the Republican Ascendancy's political and economic philosophy.
• Analyze how Coolidge's vision of 'Normalcy' related to the broader conservative shift in American politics during the 1920s.
  • Coolidge's vision of 'Normalcy' was a rejection of the progressive reforms of the previous era, which he believed had disrupted the natural order of society. This aligned with the broader conservative shift in American politics during the 1920s, as the Republican Ascendancy sought to roll back the reforms of the Progressive Era and return to a more traditional, pro-business, and limited-government approach. Coolidge's policies and rhetoric emphasized a return to traditional values and a retreat from the activist government that had characterized the previous decade, which resonated with the conservative sentiments of the time.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of Coolidge's presidency and its relationship to the Republican Ascendancy and the political landscape of the 1920s.
  • Coolidge's presidency had a significant and lasting impact on the political landscape of the 1920s and the Republican Ascendancy. His conservative fiscal policies, pro-business agenda, and emphasis on limited government intervention in the economy laid the foundation for the Republican Party's dominance during this era. Coolidge's vision of 'Normalcy' and his rejection of progressive reforms contributed to the broader conservative shift in American politics, which would have long-term implications for the country's political and economic trajectory. While Coolidge's policies were well-suited to the prosperous economic conditions of the 1920s, they also set the stage for the economic challenges that would emerge in the following decade, ultimately contributing to the Great Depression and the end of the Republican Ascendancy.

Related terms

Republican Ascendancy: The period of Republican political dominance in the United States during the 1920s, characterized by pro-business policies and a general retreat from the progressive reforms of the previous era.

Laissez-Faire Economics: An economic philosophy that advocates minimal government intervention in the economy, allowing market forces to determine economic outcomes.

Normalcy: Coolidge's vision for a return to traditional values and a rejection of the progressive reforms of the previous era, which he believed had disrupted the natural order of society.