Not So Noble Experiment

The Not So “Noble Experiment” During a time of moral and civil unrest, Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States attempted a “great social and economic experiment” that led to the prohibition of alcohol. On January 19, 1920 the US enacted the 18th amendment and set forth into the Prohibition Era. This amendment outlawed the “manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors”. Americans later coined the term the “noble experiment” to describe this event in our national history. Unfortunately, the events that took place during this decade were anything but noble. After much backlash and dire consequence, President Theodore Roosevelt would end prohibition by proposing the 21st Amendment to the Constitution that appealed

The looseness of verbiage in the law did not include consumption or possession of alcohol. The fault in the law lead many Americans to partake and provide alcohol to the masses. Pharmacists and religious leaders were still capable of distributing alcohol. Bootleggers, or citizens making and distributing alcohol illegally, capitalized on the loopholes by using pharmacies and synagogues to hide their illegal activities. Even average Americans could buy kits and home “stills” to manufacture alcohol for private use. Without proper regulation on the production of alcohol, toxic or tainted liquor was produced and caused 1,000 citizens to die annually during Prohibition. Law enforcement had the duty to uphold the law, but were met with opposition. The government created Prohibition agents to assist local police officers in enforcing the laws and combat illegal practices. Quickly bootleggers began bribing the police officers and Prohibition agents to continue with their illegal activities. Bootleggers paid large amounts of money to allow officials to turn a blind eye to the prohibited practices. Some officers succumbed to corruption themselves and joined in on the illegal sales and distribution, because bootleggers were making millions of dollars annually. Unfortunately, average citizens were not as successful. Without the money to bribe officers, many Americans overflowed the judicial

The law that was intended to “foster temperance instead fostered intemperance and excess”. (PBS.Org Prohibition) The repeal of the Amendment afforded the states the ability to control and enforce the laws set by their individual state. The 21st Amendment was the first time in US history that an amendment had been changed. Most states adapted quickly to the change, but it was not until 1966 that all fifty states put an end to Prohibition. Regardless of his motive, Herbert Hoover and the US government created a large national debt, fostered corrupt practices and led Americans to distrust the government, law enforcement and criminalized many Americans based on a moral idea that was not a popular decision. Learning about Prohibition through the articles I’ve read, have given me a broader ideal of the struggles during that time. The articles were informative and covered pretty much all that I learned in the notes and reading the text. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” is a famous quote by George Santayana (1863-1952). This holds true in most aspects and is why I love learning about