Warren G. Harding's "Return to Normalcy" Harding’s policy of “normalcy” had a great impact on the American people. He gave a speech in Boston, MA, on May 14th, 1920, in which he claimed that America didn’t need any more radicalism, it just needed to return to a normal state. If America could work its economy and politics properly, it wouldn’t need armed conflicts, global affairs, or revolutions to prove itself. Harding claimed that “Tranquility at home is more precious than peace abroad”. He wasn't concerned with global affairs if it put America at risk like WWI did; he wanted to put the country first before any others.
The “return to normalcy” resulted in a more laissez-faire (“hands off”) approach to the economy and business, and in policies of isolationism regarding world affairs, which caused a decrease in international trade because of protective tariffs. American citizens, who were exhausted from the war and confused by the Progressive Era, liked the sound of Harding’s promise; however, this idea ended up making the middle-class and lower-class poorer, and the upper-class even richer. |
Warren G. Harding's Presidency Warren G. Harding was the 29th president of the United States, in office from 1921 until his death in 1923. During his campaign, he promised that he would return America to “normalcy”. Many Americans, including Attorney General Harry Daugherty, supported Harding because he “looked like a president.” Although he looked like a president, he wasn't necessarily the best qualified candidate. Still, he won 60% of the popular vote in 1920 and took office in 1921.
Harding ended up appointing many greedy, selfish politicians to his cabinet, though he was not aware of it at the time. These people would later shock, disappoint, and embarrass him with their graft scandals. The highly republican Congress lowered taxes, raised tariffs, put hard limits on immigration, and vowed to put “less government in business and more business in government.” This was a campaign slogan of his, promising a more business-friendly approach to government. Warren G. Harding died on August 2nd, 1923 of a heart attack or stroke. His vice president, Calvin Coolidge, took office after his death. |