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Prohibition

            
             The 1920's are often described as the decade of contrast and conflicts. It was a decade that some would say was the worst decade in American history. The 18th amendment to the constitution was passed by congress in 1917. It was ratified by three fourths of the states by 1919. This amendment prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages within the boundaries of the United States of America. Prohibition was officially underway. The Volsted Act of 1919 defined an alcoholic beverage clearly as any beverage with an alcoholic content of greater than .5 %. This made it illegal to sell and manufacture all liquor and beer. (Shultz 1) .
             Prohibition was a phenomenon during the 20's. It was not however the first campaign against alcohol, but it was by far the most successful. There had been numerous anti-alcohol campaigns during the colonial period. None of which were as successful as the national prohibition laws in the 20's. For example in 1851 the Maine Law prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol in the state of Maine. By 1855 thirteen other states had adopted similar laws. During the Civil War alcoholic beverages were not allowed in the union army as a way to ration grain. .
             Leaders of the social movements tried to justify their views against alcohol with scientific evidence. Temperance advocates founded the Scientific Temperance Journal after the Civil War. Children's textbooks depicted human organs degenerating from and over abundance of alcoholic beverages being consumed. In the 1870's the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) promoted the use of public education for the cause of temperance. They were very successful with that. By 1902 every state and territory except for Arizona had a law requiring temperance instruction in public schools. They argued that immigrants were inferior to the Americans because they allow their children to drink alcohol at an early age.


Essays Related to Prohibition

1. Causes and Attributes of the Prohibition

During the Prohibition era a famous physicist named Albert Einstein said "The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. ... The prohibition of the 1920s resulted in small gangs becoming big and more powerful. ... The economic consequences of Prohibition didn't stop there with one of the most negative effects of Prohibition being government tax revenues. ... With Prohibition in effect, that revenue was immediately lost. ... Also the increase of crime due to prohibition cost the government lots of money. ...

  • Word Count: 1531
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. America and the Prohibition Era

Was the Prohibition good for United States? ... What was prohibition? ... Prohibition had many of the same characteristics as a national reform. ... Enforcement of prohibition became very difficult as time passed. ... Prior to this, prohibition gangsters were limited but prohibition opened fluid gates of money to the American mafia. ...

  • Word Count: 1355
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography

3. Prohibition

Prohibition was introduced in the United States for a vast number of reasons. ... One of the greatest hurdles that prohibition faced was in enforcement. The US president of the time, President Harding, created a special unit to enforce Prohibition (Federal Prohibition Bureau), and during the era millions of gallons of spirits were destroyed, and thousand of illegal stills confiscated. ... The introduction of Prohibition was also intended to reduce crimes rates. ... This rampart increase in crime can at least in part be attributed to Prohibition. ...

  • Word Count: 695
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Prohibition

"Prohibition did not achieve its goals. ... Unfortunately, the lofty goals of Prohibition were not achieved. ... To some surprise, the consumption of liquor in the years before prohibition, was actually very lower then that of the years throughout prohibition. ... Prohibition also initiated several economic problems. ... The drop in alcohol related deaths before prohibition quickly rose during prohibition. ...

  • Word Count: 1558
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. The Failures of Prohibition

On January 16, 1919, the Prohibition Act was passed through congress. ... The Prohibition Act was also known as the Volstead after the author of the amendment, Andrew Volstead. ... The large number of people who felt this way formed groups against the Prohibition Act. ... "Prohibition is better than no liquor at all," Will Rogers (Behr, 127). ... "It is impossible to tell whether prohibition is a good thing or a bad thing. ...

  • Word Count: 1657
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Prohibition and America - 1920s-30s

 Thesis: The Prohibition had large negative effects on the social economics of America that far outweighed the positive effects. ... One of the most common practices among organized criminals during the Prohibition was "labor racketeering.... Therefore, the idea that Prohibition would stifle and reduce crime was grossly incorrect, as Prohibition actually facilitated and expanded large scale crime. ... This realization would ultimately lend a helping hand in repealing Prohibition. ... Prohibition led to the death of thousands due to the lack of regulations. ...

  • Word Count: 819
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. Prohibition

Although national records show that there was a decrease in alcohol consumption Due to Prohibition, people later realized that by the end of prohibition the levels of Consumption had actually surpassed the pre-Prohibition levels. ... Throughout Prohibition crime was one of the most shocking problems on The rise. ... The largest social conflict over Prohibition was with the working class. ... In essence the Great Depression killed Prohibition, creating an unavoidable distraction from Prohibition's moral crusade. ... Prohibition ended with an increase of crime, corruption and ...

  • Word Count: 872
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Prohibition in the United States

Prohibition not only affected the people of America from 1920-1933 but remain to affect the decisions that are made today regarding prohibition of other substances or activities. To many people prohibition has been considered a failure. ... They wanted prohibition. ... The pamphlet included their conclusions about prohibition, which included economic and social costs of national prohibition. ... The laws of Prohibition were greatly broken. ...

  • Word Count: 1620
  • Approx Pages: 6

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