Andersen’s account presents the passage of the 18th Amendment and national prohibition as the product of the growth and development of the prohibitionist movement, multifaceted organized activism, and the complex political discourse of the period. Likewise, she interprets the repeal of the 18th amendment and end of national prohibition as resulting from the rise of a reactionary organized anti-prohibition movement, which took advantage the shifting winds of the nation’s contentious discourse over political democracy. In "Temperance Movements And Prohibition", Holland Webb writes his overview of the temperance and prohibition movement, leading up the period of national prohibition. Webb states that in the mid-19th century, the temperance movement …show more content…
had shifted from moral suasion to social reform and legal policy. In the later 19th century, organized prohibitionist groups, such as the Prohibition Party, the W.T.C.U., and the anti-saloon league arose to advance the prohibition movement on a national scale. The Anti-Saloon League is claimed by Webb to have been the most powerful and impactful of these groups. In the early 20th century, the Anti-Salon league was able to gain momentum with its political pressure tactics, successful public relation efforts, forming networks between various pro-temperance groups, exploiting the division of pro-alcohol forces, and advancing prohibition policy through multiple avenues (including local option laws, public referendums, and eventually constitutional amendment). In 1913, the Anti-Saloon League set off its campaign for a national prohibition amendment. Activism from prohibitionist groups, combined with common public belief in the economic benefits of eliminating alcohol, helped to move the amendment forward. Eventually, the political momentum grew strong enough hat 18th Amendment was passed in congress and quickly ratified by the states. Webb portrays the establishment of the 18th Amendment the product of a shift in the temperance movement from moral suasion and education to social coercion, and from social reform to legislative reform. He claims that this change brought about the rise of national prohibition, but also resulted in its fall. That the prohibitionist effort sought to change laws without changing hearts, and that failed enforcement and crime undermined its political support. He claims that the dominance of the Anti-Saloon League’s political approach had doomed prohibitionism to failure, and that if a longer focus on personal and social reform had been undertaken, that prohibitionist legislation could have been more successful. Webb’s interpretation is somewhat questionable.
The claim that prohibitionists didn’t try to reform individuals or that the move toward prohibitionist policies involved an abandoning of moral and social reform is, I would contend, mistaken. From my own research on temperance movement, efforts to reform individuals, educational efforts, and efforts at social reform continued when it moved toward prohibitionism, and the efforts for prohibitionist policies was an addition to a comprehensive approach to reform people on an individual and social level. Likewise, Andersen also contends that the rise of prohibitionism didn’t replace moral suasion, and that prohibitionist social and political reform were intimately connected. Though Webb’s paper does seem to largely focus on the Anti-Saloon League, which a more pressure politics focus than other temperance and prohibition organization. So, his interpretation may be a case of excessive generalization and …show more content…
simplification. In "The Prohibition-Repeal Amendments: A Natural Experiment in Interest Group Influence", Michael Munger and Thomas Schaller analyze the passage of the 18th Amendment and its repeal through the 21st Amendment, by sing social statistical analysis, and looking at the competition of interest groups in establishing political narratives for convincing the public. Munger and Schaller make use of social statistical analysis, combined with theories of constitutional political economy. They claim there wasn’t necessarily much change in the personal preferences of voters in the period between the establishment and repeal of national prohibition, and that the change was largely the result of the shifting powers of interest groups. In the lead up to 1919, the various groups advocating for prohibition were well organized, had established a strong public narrative combining moral and economic arguments, and had benefited from the alliance between the prohibition and women’s suffrage movement.
It as able to strategically establish local majorities and lobby legislative officials. While the opponents of prohibition were less organized and caught of guard. Though after the establishment of national prohibition and women’s suffrage, dry activists became less mobilized. Anti-prohibitionist forces became more organized, produced new public narratives against prohibition, took advantage of the desire of New Deal reformers to raise taxes, and went around prohibitionist influence in state legislatures by passing the 21st Amendment through convention. Thus, Munger and Schaller interpret the establishment of the 18th Amendment and national prohibition, and the condition it was placed in as having been shaped the activities of interest groups within constitutional political
economy. The works of Colvin, Andersen, Webb, and Munger and Schaller each make their historiographic contributions toward trying to understand how the 18th Amendment and national prohibition had come to be established as they had. Colvin’s work portrays the rise of national prohibition as a result of the logical growth of the temperance and prohibition movement, as being established through the public activism of citizens and prohibitionist organizations, and as the product of various political developments. It also raises considerations as to how different political approaches within the prohibition movement effected its outcome. Andersen contends that the development of the national prohibition movement was connected to the dynamics of the post-civil war and progressive eras, and that the differences and dynamics within the prohibition movement impacted how the 18th amendment was advanced. She makes a case for the importance of democratic political notions in shaping the movement toward 18th amendment. Webb, although questionable in some of his interpretive assertions, gives additional portrayal of the Anti-Saloon League pressure politics aspect of the rise of the 18th Amendment. Munger and Schaller give attention to statistical efforts to changes in the period and contended for the importance of interest groups and public narratives in the rise and fall of the 18th amendment. Each account emphasized the importance of prohibitionist organizations, such as the Prohibition Party, W.T.C.U., and Anti-Saloon League, in some form. Each emphasized aspects of social and/or political transformation which helped establish the 18th amendment. And each, with differing reasonings, contend the national prohibition movement had established enough socio-political power in the early 19th century to be able to establish a prohibition amendment, but had not established enough unity and influence to maintain it as a lasting policy, against the changes of anti-prohibitionists. From this it can be seen that there is a historiographical basis to interpret that the 18th Amendment and national prohibition, were established as the result of organized advocacy, socio-political transformation, and the particular dynamics of how prohibitionist policy activism developed.
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?
During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, many saw alcohol as a cause of instability among communities. To counteract the effects of alcohol on American society, The Temperance Movement, Prohibition Party and many others sought to enact anti-liquor laws that would prohibit the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol. On January 19, 1920, the Eighteenth Amendment had taken effect and a nationwide ban on alcohol was enacted. This was thought of as a solution to the many problems that America had at the time, but it only made matters worse. The American society had been greatly affected by the Eighteenth Amendment in many negative aspects such as increasing crime and violence, worsening the economy, and much more.
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.
In order to truly understand Canadian prohibition the prior temperance movement must be examined. During the 19th century, alcohol was seen as a great evil (citation needed). This evil harmed the family unit and society. This was the view of the teetotalers who abstained from alcoholic beverages on a moral basis (citation needed). The teetotalers thought that their morals came from the Judeo-Christian God, and that curing society from the evil of alcohol was necessary for “Social Salvation.” (Citation needed)
In 1920, a leading Prohibitionist declared in Congress that “There is as much chance of repealing the Eighteenth Amendment as there is for a hummingbird to fly to the planet Mars with the Washington Monument tied to its tail.” 13 years later, after the outbreak of the Great Depression this is exactly what happened? However, the main reason lies not with the Depression itself; this was merely the catalyst for its repeal. The simple fact the prohibition did not achieve its aims was the main cause of the passing of the Twenty-first Amendment, bringing about other factors which pushed the anti-Prohibition movement forwards.
Although the temperance movement was concerned with the habitual drunk, its primary goal was total abstinence and the elimination of liquor. With the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the well-organized and powerful political organizations, utilizing no holds barred political tactics, successfully accomplished their goal. Prohibition became the law of the land on January 16, 1920; the manufacturing, importation, and sale of alcohol was no longer legal in the United States. Through prohibition, America embarked on what became labeled “the Nobel Experiment.” However, instead of having social redeeming values as ordained, prohibition had the opposite effect of its intended purpose, becoming a catastrophic failure.
“By 1830, the average American over 15 years old consumed nearly seven gallons of pure alcohol a year – three times as much as we drink today – and alcohol abuse (primarily by men) was wreaking havoc on the lives of many.” In the 1800s millions of Americans took a pledge to refrain from drinking alcohol. This was known as the Temperance Movement. The temperance movement was a reaction to the increase of alcohol consumption throughout the nation. The opposition to drinking originally stemmed from heath and religious reformers. These groups were crucial to American society for their efforts to tighten social controls. During this era, there were multiple citizens who believed some individuals were living unethically. “These people feared that God would no longer bless the United States and that these ungodly and unscrupulous people posed a threat to America's political system. To survive, the American republic, these people believed, needed virtuous citizens.” Due to these
Many may say that the Antebellum Temperance Movement was primarily motivated by religious moralism. I tend to take that stance as well. The Antebellum Temperance Movement of the 18th century was focused around the idea that people, mostly men, should abstain from alcohol if they could not drink the spirits in moderation. In this era, many women had suffered greatly because their loved ones would imbibe excessively leaving them short on money, food, and even shelter which left many impoverished and unable to care for their families. Additionally, the excessive consumption of alcohol led to health care issues, crime and in the end, destitution. The first author, W.J. Rorabaugh, is a proponent on the side of how Christian ministers, “portrayed liquor as the tool of the devil and develop temperance societies as socialization institutions to ease social tensions and anxieties that contributed to alcohol consumption,” (Madaras, L.; SoRelle, J. Pg. 256) Appositionally, John J. Rumbarger opposes by stating that, “the nineteenth–century temperance reform was the product of the pro-capitalist market economy whose entrepreneurial elite led the way toward abstinence and prohibitionist campaigns. In order to guarantee the availability for a more productive workforce,” (Madaras, L.; SoRelle, J. Pg. 256). I agree with W.J. Rorabaugh that during the Antebellum Temperance Movement, the church’s played an enormous role in prohibiting alcohol consumption because it was the “tool of the devil”.
“Prohibition did not achieve its goals. Instead, it added to the problems it was intended to solve.” On 16th January 1920, one of the most common personal habits and customs of American society came to a halt. The eighteenth amendment was implemented, making all importing, exporting, transporting, selling and manufacturing of intoxicating liquors absolutely prohibited. This law was created in the hope of achieving the reduction of alcohol consumption, which in turn would reduce: crime, poverty, death rates, and improve both the economy, and the quality of life for all Americans. These goals were far from achieved. The prohibition amendment of the 1920's was ineffective because it was unenforceable. Instead, it caused various social problems such as: the explosive growth of organized crime, increased liquor consumption, massive murder rates and corruption among city officials. Prohibition also hurt the economy because the government wasn’t collecting taxes on the multi-billion dollar a year industry.
Blocker, Jack S. "American Temperance Movements: Cycles of Reform." Boston : Twayne Publishers, c1989. Ezell, Marcel D. "Early Attitudes toward Alcoholic Beverages in the South." Red River Valley Historical Review 7, 1982. Nott, Eliphalet.
The Temperance Movement was aimed to promote abstinence from alcohol, to criticize those who consumed alcohol, and political influence was often used as well. It focused on abolishing alcohol consumption completely. Political influence was important because it led to laws that limited and regulated alcohol that eventually led to prohibition. “Temperance reformers typically were evangelical Protestants who regarded alcoholic beverages as harmful and even sinful for the individual drinker and for society at large. Supposedly, drink destroyed families and reputations and brought about poverty, disorder, and crime.” (Fahey, 2013) This movement stated that alcohol was dangerous for everyone. They believed that all individuals who drank would lose control of their drinking habits and would start encountering problems as a result of drinking. The Temperance Movement was just the beginning of what would eventually become the Eighteenth Amendment of the United States. The movement was be...
Prohibition originated in the nineteenth century but fully gained recognition in the twentieth century. The Prohibition was originally known as the Temperance Movement. In the 1820s and 1830s, a wave of religious revivalism developed in the United States, leading to increased calls for temperance, as well as other reform movements such as the abolition of slavery (“Prohibition”). These reforms were often led by middle class women. The abolition of slavery became a more important topic of debate until after the Civil War. By the turn of the century, temperance societies were a common thing throughout the communities in the United States (“Prohibition”). Women advocated the unity of the family, and they believed alcohol prevented such a thing. Drunken husbands only brought about negativity to the home, and women could not support that behavior. Suffragists, in their pursuit for voting rights, also sought to eliminate alcohol from the home. Small-scale legislation had been passed in several states, but no national laws had been enacted. On January 29, 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified by Congress; it banned t...
One of the biggest controversies of the twentieth century is the eighteenth amendment. Mississippi was the first state to pass the bill of prohibition. From there on out the entire country followed in Mississippi’s lead in the crusade of prohibition. The eighteenth amendment was a law, which tried to reform and protect the American people against alcohol, as some called, “the devil’s advocate”. The outcome of prohibition was more negative than positive and reeked more havoc than good on the American society.
.... As soon as the 21st Amendment was appealed, the 18th Amendment was defunct. Prohibition was ended because it failed to enforce sobriety in the US. The government spent billions of dollars enforcing this law. Prohibition lost most of its support in the early 1930s. When prohibition was no longer supported by the citizens, prohibition was ended in most states. Other states kept the law by enforcing temperance laws.
It was the late 19th century when a lot of conflict for families from the Industrial Revolution and illegal drugs had easy access to anyone in the United Sates. These illegal drugs like morphine, cocaine, and alcohol were available through manufacture, delivery, and selling. It was proved that the over use of alcohol and violence in families’ homes were linked together around the 1850’s and that women and children were being abused by the father and husband from the letters and journals that were wrote. These were times when women were stay at home mothers and it was the man’s responsibility to be the provider for the wife and children. Because of the abuse in the household it led up to the temperance movement. The purpose