Monday, October 26, 2015

Americanism and the 1920s



Warren G. Harding, recording a speech. Photo: The Miller Center, University of Virginia

Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio gave a speech in January, 1920 in which he discussed the idea of "Americanism."* How did Harding define “Americanism”? Did the events of the 1920s challenge or confirm Harding’s definition/interpretation of Americanism?

* Go to the StudySpace section of the Give Me Liberty! website for a downloadable version of Harding's speech, as well as a transcript. The Harding speech is under the "Audio and Video Sources" link on the left sidebar.

This post will be available for comments until Monday, November 2. 

21 comments:

  1. Harding defined Americanism as a standard of living that relies on acquiring consumer products. In order to make these goods they use mass production. The events of the 1920's confirms this. For example, many manufacturers adapted Ford's assembly line in order to produce goods as efficiently as possible, so more people can buy them (Give Me Liberty! pg 771).

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  2. Harding's Americanism is a nationality a belief in ones country after the revolution. He sees it as an idea of how Americans should act to better itself and increase it's power and stabilize the nation. The 1920's or the roaring 20's do support this with the rapid increase in economy increase in wages for mass manufacturers, new amendments like the 19th that helped give women the right to vote. This allowed America to innovate and create a more stabilized nation.

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  3. In his speech Harding defined Americanism as putting the country before anything else, and believed that Americanism was stabilization. His definition falls closely with what happened in the 1920s, mass production of products allowed for more people to be able to afford a stable standard of living.

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    1. Harding didn't say put the Country first rather than to put the National identity, the principles it was created on first and the exercise of those principles within our borders first prior to any where else. In simple truth, there was no thought of nationality in the revolution for America’s independence. "The colonists were resisting a wrong, and freedom was their solace...nationality was the only agency suited to its preservation. " (2nd Paragraph) The 1920's challenged and confirmed his definition. In the process of many persons to exercise the national principles they thus far exercise the national identity of resistance in pursuit of those principles

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    2. I agree with Robyn that there is a difference between saying that Harding said national identity should be put first rather than saying he said the country should be put first. I I say this because if he were to say he desired the country to be put first, it could be implied that he wanted America to be first in the world. This could mean he wanted international dominance without much concern for internal affairs as long as America had a reputation on a global scale.
      Instead, Harding defined "Americanism" as nationalism, calling for a strengthening of the nation internally. Mass production of consumer products in the 1920's did indeed strengthen the nation, confirming Harding's definition.

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  4. Harding defined Americanism as a strong sense of nationalism. He mentioned that we must stabilize and prosper America. His views were that of the 1920's as they seek to make America prosperous. There were increase in production and standard of living as americans are now more focused on their personal lives instead of working all day.

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  5. Warren G. Harding denied Americanism as a strong sense of nationalism, in which America's best interest is most important. The events in the 1920s confirm Harding's definition of Americanism because many aspects of American life were bettered, directly leading to the American nation becoming stronger. Mass production revolutionized the factory industry, especially Ford's factories, by making production much faster and providing workers with livable wages.

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  6. Harding's speech defined the concept of Americanism as a strong sense of nationalism and having a strong identity as a nation. Harding believed that it was critical to put America before anything. The events of the 1920's confirmed Harding's definition of Americanism because life in America had improved making the nation stronger as a whole. The quality of life improved as well as the growth of industry with mass production. Workers received wages that made living easier than before making workers consumers of society. The 1920's were an improvement on the economic and social conditions in America making people proud to be Americans thus reinforcing Harding's idea of Americanism.

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  7. Harding's speech emphasizes the importance of nationalism and pretty much makes Americanism and Nationalism synonymous. Harding showed great importance on preserving the liberties of America and focusing entirely on the needs of America prior to attempting to regulate or mitigate any lacking liberties or freedoms overseas. Harding believed in developing America in all aspects including its economy; which is what occurred during the roaring 20's. Businesses were booming, there was a standard living wage, women were allowed to vote and America was producing 1/3 of the world's industry. Automobiles also contributed to this great feet of indsustry. The events of the roaring 20's abundantly supported Warding's expectations and beliefs.

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  8. Harding defined Americanism as having strong nationalism and stabilization. He emphasized that America began nationalism when it had a stable government, and that it has always been thriving and done its part in supporting citizens. The 1920's confirmed his interpretation due to booming businesses, growing economy and jobs, voting rights, and increase in industry and factories.

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  9. Harding believes in nationalism. He believes Americans should represent the United States in order to become a statewide union. He states that America has given the opportunity of rights and liberty to mankind and we should do something positive with it. The 1920’s was a very good time for people in America, mass productions, businesses blooming better lives for people in America. In my opinion what he was saying is that since America has brought many opportunities for people, people should give back by supporting the country.

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  10. Harding defined Americanism as emphasizing the importance of nationalism and having a strong identity as a nation. The nation has a obligation to life, liberty, and civilization. The 1920's supported Harding's ideas because the 20's were a time of mass production, job increase, overall better lifestyle. It was a time where it improved the economic and social life of America into a stronger nation.

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  11. Warren G. Harding considered Americanism as the idea of nationalism and liberty. Harding referred back to the American Revolution where the colonists fought for liberty against the "wrong", which was anything disregarding the United States' best interests. The people should disregard any international aspects and interests, since the American public should focus on their own nation first. In terms of the events in the 1920's, mass production helped the country economically.

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  12. To Warren G. Harding the idea of "Americanism" means nationalism, patriotism and to be independent from other nations. He believed that America can operate without the interference of other foreign nations. That in order to help other nations we must "make sure our own house is in perfect order ."

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  13. From Harding's point of view, "Americanism" was defined with nationalistic values towards the United States. This meant being a nation that was able function as an independent body. Similarly, this applied to civilians as well on a smaller scale. In addition, he sought importance in American consumerism and the ever long journey to prosperity, with the roaring 20's confirming his beliefs shortly after. The roaring 20's were all about a booming market, liberty and furthered citizen rights (suffrage, women's rights), and the broadening of the job market.

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  14. Harding defined “Americanism” as placing heavy significance on national identity. He believed that it should be the duty of Americans to be proud of their nationality as American “headed the forward procession of civil, human, and religious liberty which ultimately will affect the liberation of all mankind” (paragraph 2). The events that partook in the 1920s confirm Harding’s definition of Americanism because the Roaring 20s saw the height of the American economy and the rise of America as a world superpower.

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  15. Harding saw "Americanism" as a sense of identity, safety and life. You can see he believed in this idea because in the 1920s we see that the economy was booming and America was beginning to look like a world super power. On top of this we see a time of increased account of jobs, opportunity and an actual living wage that had not been seen before this time.

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  16. Harding described Americanism as having a strong form of nationsalism. I believe he really believed in a strong form of nationalism because the economy was really growing, and America was developing into a superpower. There was a huge boom in consumerism, a proud sense of nationalism after the war, and a feeling of prosperity and hope roaring throughout the post WWI era.

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  17. Senator Harding defined "Americanism" as a national identity that emphasized freedom, liberties, and prosperity. The events of the 1920s confirmed his view of "Americanism". The nineteenth amendment granted women the right to vote increasing their freedoms and making America more equal for everyone. The 20s also saw a great economic boom making America very prosperous.

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  18. Americanism is the representation and preservation of civil, human, and religious liberty that has been defined by the federal constitution and Nationalism as a development of Americanism,as interpreted by Senator Warren G. Harding during his January 1920 speech. This interpretation is supported in the 1920's as we find a growing American population with greater freedoms such as the expansion of suffrage rights towards women by the 19th amendment.

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  19. senator Harding definition of Americanism was as a national identity that had freedom and prosperity at its core. The events that transpired in the 20's confirmed his views with the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. Lastly the roaring 20's lead to a great period of economic prosperity. All of these events confirmed Harding views.

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