The Prohibition Experiment of the 1920's

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The Prohibition Experiment of the 1920's The Prohibition experiment of the 1920’s was originally introduced mainly because of pressure from groups such as the Anti-saloon league. However reasons such as World War I, public safety and the general concern for the state of morality within the USA also contributed to Congress passing the Volstead Act in 1920. After thirteen years of America being ‘dry,’ and much debate, President Roosevelt repealed Prohibition in 1933 after declaring the ‘noble experiment’ had been a failure.’ Today the period of thirteen years within America where alcohol was illegal is often referred to as an ‘experiment.’ This word alone implies that it was a futile period within America’s history, as the noble act of banning alcohol didn’t last. Prohibition is also thought of as a social experiment, these are conducted to see whether change can or cannot be brought about within society. Although the period of Prohibition didn’t stop the American people drinking completely, which was its aim, the amount of alcohol consumed had gone down by 1933 when the Volstead act was repealed. Whether or not the Prohibition experiment of the 1920’s within the USA, was a failure or not has long since been debated. There were a number of reasons why it failed, but against these arguments there were also reasons why it was originally passed and why although it was repealed it did succeed in it’s aim of making the American people drink less, it is these argument which I... ... middle of paper ... ...is is another key reason as to why Prohibition failed. Although the period of Prohibition failed to keep America completely ‘dry,’ the amount of alcohol consumed did fall and by more than half by 1933, many historians argue that this is Prohibition succeeded, as although drinking didn’t cease completely it did decrease. The Prohibition experiment of the 1920’s was a failure, because of lack of effort the government put into maintaining it. There was not enough money in the system and officers were poorly paid and allowed large gangs to spring up. The demand for it by the societies of American also made it fail. Although the experiment succeeded in brining down the drinking rate in the USA, it did not achieve in stopping it completely, which was its aim, therefore it did not succeed in its aim and consequently failed.

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