Domestic politics: Harding, Coolidge and Republican conservatism; Hoover and the Depression
Three Republican presidents dominated American politics in the 1920s. They believed government should stay out of business and people's lives — until the Great Depression exposed the limits of that approach.
Real World
Coolidge's Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon cut the top income tax rate from 73% to 25%, directly benefiting wealthy industrialists like himself — a textbook example of laissez-faire Republican policy in action.
Exam Focus
When evaluating Hoover's response to the Depression, avoid simply saying he 'did nothing' — credit for noting his limited measures such as the Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
How well did you know this?