1920's

            
            
            
            
             Prohibition: Why it failed and how it.
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
             This small poem above refers to the illegal booze-making that occurred in the 1920's during the time of prohibition. The Roaring Twenties was a scandalous time that felt the energy of both a booming and crashing stock market. The twenties was a time which America was, supposedly, being destroyed by the rampant drinking that was corrupting the nation. This major movement known as prohibition it was put in place January 16, 1920. It was viewed as a solution, but it only created more problems. After prohibition was put into effect an increase of alcohol consumption was almost immediately seen. Thereby going against everyone's perceived image of prohibition. Many people turned to bootlegging as a quick way to make money. Many alcohol related murders ensued. This was a wild time in the United States which could be linked to the growing need for, now illegal, alcohol. What follows is my term paper concentrates on why prohibition failed and the effect it has had on the country.
             Prohibition was a major movement in America to ban alcohol. This was an effort to purify the American people, but this action back fired. Prohibition lowered the amount of low level crimes, but it increased crimes like murder and stealing. "Prohibition did not achieve its goals. Instead, it added to the problems it was intended to solve" (Thorton, 15). On Midnight of January 16, 1920, one of the personal habits and customs of most Americans suddenly came to a halt. The Eighteenth Amendment was put into effect and all importing, exporting, transporting, selling, and manufacturing of intoxicating liquor was put to an end. Prohibition was meant to reduce the consumption of alcohol. It was thought that this would reduce crime, poverty, death rates, and improve the economy and the quality of life. "National prohibition of alcohol -- the 'noble experiment' -- was undertaken to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in America" (Thorton, 1).