The Role Of Prohibition In The 1920's

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One major event that dramatically effected the 1920's was prohibition. Ratified in 1919, prohibition banned the making, selling and consuming of alcoholic beverages. Two major political events that effected this period of time was the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act ("The Roaring Twenties"). Both of these drove liquor trade underground, making the selling of alcohol illegal. Although, speakeasies made this possible by coming into play during the prohibition era and establishing an illegal way Americans could still get alcohol ("History of the Roaring Twenties"). Because The Great Gatsby was published in the midst of prohibition, it closely relates to this era. The novel closely mirrors the events taken place in the 1920's. For example,

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