Exam 24: The Reactionary Twenties

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During the 1920s, the policies of the Republican party dominated the federal government to a significant extent. Under the leadership of Presidents Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover, the Republican party implemented policies that favored limited government intervention in the economy, high tariffs to protect American industries, and a pro-business approach to regulation.

These policies were a rejection of progressivism in several ways. Progressivism, which had been influential in the early 20th century, emphasized government intervention to address social and economic problems, regulation of big business, and the protection of workers' rights. The Republican policies of the 1920s, on the other hand, sought to roll back many of these progressive reforms.

For example, the Republican administrations of the 1920s favored a hands-off approach to business regulation, leading to a lack of oversight and contributing to the speculative excesses that ultimately led to the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression. Additionally, the high tariffs implemented by the Republicans were a rejection of the progressive idea of free trade and international cooperation.

Overall, the policies of the Republican party during the 1920s represented a shift away from the progressive ideals of the previous decades, favoring a more laissez-faire approach to governance and economics.