The second decade of the twentieth century, affectionately referred to as the “Roaring Twenties,” was a truly spectacular time in American history. The era was characterized by incredible and irresponsible economic prosperity where the incredibly wealthy enjoyed unfathomable amounts of money. With the advent of Jazz music, the further progression of women’s rights, and the rapid advancement of technology, American society seemed to be nearing a golden age. Unfortunately, all was not golden in the United States in the 1920s. The age of economic boom culminated in the most devastating bust in American history and ushered in the Great Depression in 1929. As if becoming the decade of the worst economic downturn in history was not enough, the 1920s also came to be known as the age of Prohibition. For many, many years prior to the 1920s, a growing number of people had feared the damage the consumption of alcohol could do to American society. After years of work by organizations such as the Anti-Saloon League, the Eighteenth Amendment was passed in 1920. Under the amendment, “the manufacture, sale, importation, exportation, and transportation of intoxicating liquors,” in the United States was strictly prohibited (Constitution). Many Americans seemed to view the amendment merely as a challenge and proceeded to produce and consume alcohol anyway. Never before had the United States seen such absurd levels of disregard for the law. The multitudes of law-breaking citizens needed a source of “Demon Rum,” a nickname given to alcohol for its destructive properties, and organized crime rings were more than willing to provide (Harper). Beleaguered by the violent rise of organized crime, the uproar of blatantly disobedient citizens, and... ... middle of paper ... ...Roaring Twenties." Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms: Pop Culture of 20th-Century America. Ed. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast. Vol. 2: 1920s-1930s. Detroit: UXL, 2002. 235-241. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. • Tanenhaus, David S. Vol. 2. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 81-83. U.S. History in Context. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. • Thornton, Mark. "Alcohol Prohibition Was a Failure." Cato Institute. Cato Institute, 17 July 1991. Web. 02 Mar. 2014. • "The Volstead Act." National Archives and Records Administration. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 02 Mar. 2014. • Westerville Public Library. "History of the Anti-Saloon League." Anti-Saloon League Museum. Westerville Public Library. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. • Wooddy, Carroll H. The Growth of the Federal Government: 1915 - 1932. New York: McGraw Hill, 1934. 94-95. Print.
On Jan. 17, 1920, America went completely dry. The 18th Amendment of the United States Constitution had been ratified a year earlier, banning “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” within the United States and its territories. This began the era of Prohibition, a 14-year time period of law-breaking unlike any other in our country’s history fueled by bootleggers, gangs, speak easies and mafias. The 18th Amendment was a rarity in that it limited the rights of the individual rather than the activities of the government, thereby guaranteeing an unfavorable reception and reaction. “Last Call” The Rise and Fall of Prohibition was written by Daniel Okrent and published in May 2010 and is a historical explanation of the Prohibition era. Prohibition through the 18th Amendment holds the distinction of being the only constitutional amendment ever to be repealed. This fact leads one to ask: How did this even occur? Why would Americans sacrifice their precious right to drink?
What were the unintended consequences of alcohol prohibition in the United States in the 1920’s? In this investigation, the focus will be on the time frame 1920 to 1933, from when the 18th amendment was passed to when alcohol prohibition was repealed. The pros and cons of national prohibition of alcohol in the aspects of health, financial, and social results will be weighed. This will be done through the interpretation of statistics from before and after prohibition, insights of those who lived through the time period, and apparent reasons for the repeal of the amendment. The main type of source used was secondary source journal articles authored by scholars concerning the outcome of prohibition.
January 1920, the opening year of the 18th Amendment that sought banning “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” within the United States and its US territories. Many Americans relate this era with speakeasy, public law breaking, and a public disregard for the establishment of prohibition. The 18th Amendment was the first constitutional amendment that sought to limit the rights of citizens and their rights to drink. This would become an attempt that many would soon come to realize as one of the greatest failures in law enforcement in American History. For if an American wants to drink, those with the American spirit for rebellion will surly offer him one.
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Foner, Eric, and John A. Garraty, eds. The Reader's Companion to American History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1991.
3. Divine, Breen, Fredrickson, Williams, eds., America Past and Present Volume II: since 1865 sixth edition (New York: Longman 2002).
Okrent, Daniel. "Prohibition Life: Politics, Loopholes And Bathtub Gin." NPR. NPR, 2010. Web. Feb. 2014.
On January 16, 1919 America changed forever the Amendment declared it illegal to manufacture, transport, and sell alcoholic beverages in the United States. More than two-thirds of the Senate, two-thirds of the House of Representatives, and three-fourths of the state legislature now has approved the change. Prohibition was ruled illegal because drinking is most of America’s serious problems like child abuse, crime, unemployment, and workers safety. People would come to work with a hangover or was really drunk, and some of the workers where probably so drunk that they were absent for work. Then fourteen years later the Amendment was repealed, it was almost as if Americans changed their mind on Prohibition.
"The Prohibition Era." The Prohibition Era. Historic Patterson, 22 Mar. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
Due to the causes above and consequences of Prohibition precisely its unpopularity, FDR promised to repeal the 18th Amendment as a way to gain more supporters. The want for the repealing of Prohibition led to his win in the 1932 election in a landslide. The main long-term effect was the creation of organized crime. Prohibition indirectly created a secret network of criminals that were able to sell and distribute the material illegally. Before this period there was no such thing as organized crime, but ever since then, it has existed. This journey of the country through the ban of alcohol actually led to more people drinking alcohol. Another short-term effect of the revoking of Prohibition was the increased revenue gained as a result of taxation on alcoholic beverages. Although the barring of alcohol was arguably a good idea, failed enforcement and little long-term, after the 18th Amendment’s ratification, support made Prohibition a detriment to the US economy and the country in
The Prohibition Amendment, which took effect on January 16, 1920, outlawed the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol in the United States and its territories, until its repeal on December 5, 1933. Today, Prohibition is often referred to as the “Noble Experiment” because it was created to reduce the adverse effects that alcohol had on families and society. Excessive consumption of alcohol, primarily by men, often resulted in domestic violence, poor work performance, and wasteful spending of wages on alcohol, which were needed to support families. Although the Prohibition Amendment did decrease alcohol-related consequences, ultimately this legislation should not have been enacted because it led to more organized crime and an increase of economic problems.
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Prohibition not only failed in its promise to curb the social problem created by alcohol. It actually promoted s...
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