Cause And Effects Of Prohibition

Prohibition advanced in the 1920’s. However, it did not have an effect on the “liquor-loving public”. Illegal bars, speakeasies, emerged and became well known to the public.

In 1849, the Daughters of Temperance, created by Susan B. Anthony, was formed. These few enterprising women referred to alcohol as “The Unclean Thing” and began one of the many quests for Prohibition. They strove to shut down saloons or at least regulate their hours, closing on Sundays, the day of rest, in order to protect their families and their finances from the horrors of men under the influence.6 However, this proved to be a difficult endeavor because by 1875, one third of the total federal revenue was a result of the manufacturing, purchasing, and distribution of alcohol.7 The multiple Prohibition groups that had sprung up by this time did indeed recognize that their goal of “destroying the demand of the consumer” of alcohol related items would jeopardize over one thousand million dollars worth of income, without compensating those who would become indebted by their proposition. Supporters of the temperance movement then realized that their efforts must be extended beyond the realm of the church in order for them to achieve their arduous goal on a national level.8

Alongside corruption and women’s efforts playing a large part in the Prohibition movement was violence alcohol consumption harbored. Alcohol led to an increased rate of domestic abuse as well as crimes such as theft, murder, and rape. The American Medical Association, at their annual meeting [Doc B] said, “[Alcohol’s] use in therapeutics, as a tonic, or a stimulant or as a food has not scientific basis… should be discouraged.” The AMA recognized that alcohol was detrimental to human behaviors and therefore should not have been consumed. This idea, one of the many, at the forefront of the prohibition movement led to the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment. Thomas D. West noted the number of dangers alcohol produces. He described his worries

Protestants, urban political progressives, those of old-world religion, and the women’s temperance unions all agreed upon one thing: the outlaw of alcohol consumption in the United States. For many years, these groups all rallied to have this outlaw take place, this outlaw would later be known as Prohibition. In 1913, crusaders gathered in Washington, they marched and demanded change. In “The War on Alcohol” Lisa McGirr states, “Antiliquor crusaders worked to educate the public about the dangers of alcohol through posters, pamphlets, graphs and charts” (19).  Progressives blamed alcohol for many other “dirty” problems such as domestic violence, gambling and prostitution. What was commonly referred to as the Volstead Act (National Prohibition Act) was sent to the states by Congress on December 18,1917, it was passed on October 28,1919, and ratified on January 16, 1919 and the country went dry one year later when the eighteenth amendment went into effect on January 20,1919. Prohibition was a ban on producing, importing, transporting and selling alcohol beverages. While the goal of the ban was to reduce alcohol consumption and clean up the country, what it really did was cause organized crime to skyrocket, detrimentally affect local and national economies and ultimately cause people to drink a more potent alcohol that was far worse for them.

Especially with the brewers policing themselves and cutting down on saloons that were not selling approved types of alcohol by them, or were opened using the revenue of a saloon. Kerr acknowledges the Brewers Association for trying to get their message out in DC, because they assumed that is where the act was being voted on, but they were wrong. Individual states had been convinced of the moral, ethical and economic issues associated with the saloon and because of the Brewers Associations misguided efforts, they lose the battle against prohibition. Kerr’s finding establish a new line of thought that many people inside the Anti-Saloon league did not agree with the “legalistic, coercive approach to prohibition.” Instead many leaders including Cherrington thought that if the ASL provided outreach, reform and educational services than people would voluntarily choose not to drink. This split in ideals is what ended the Anti-Saloon League. In the end despite the illegal trafficking of alcohol, Prohibition work at the end of the day. In the high of Prohibition consumption of alcohol was lowered from one-third to

With America’s strong dependence of alcohol prior to, and even after, the enactment of the 18th amendment, one may wonder how a country drowning in liquor could possibly support the banning of alcohol, or Prohibition. In the years leading up to January 16th, 1919, support for Prohibition went from a handful of advocates, including devout protestant women praying in front of saloons, to quite possibly a majority (While one cannot be entirely certain, support for Prohibition was at least relatively equal to its lack of support.) of citizens demanding Prohibition. Many significant events lead to this growing support, yet eight of these events which are outlined in Daniel Okrent’s Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition were especially significant.

During the era of 1920-1933 could best be characterized as the path to a sober nation. This time of history consisted of the eighteenth amendment which was passed on October 28th 1919; Volstead Act. The Volstead act was created to carry out the movement of prohibition. In addition, Prohibition is the legal prohibiting of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic drinks for common consumption according to dictionary.com. Furthermore, this amendment concurs that alcohol beverages could not be made, transported, or sold legally in the United States. People started to trust that drinking would demolish ones character, change politics, and created crime. On the other hand, the prohibition amendment did lower alcohol consequences outcomes, in the end this amendment should never have been passed as it caused more organized crime and an increase of problems with our economy.

Daniel Okrent’s “Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition” provides to the reader a detailed background of the Prohibition movement from its small beginnings up to its repeal by President Roosevelt in 1933. Like most readers, I only had a small lexicon of names and terms associated with Prohibition. Like most individuals have garnered their limited knowledge of Prohibition from screen and TV. My undergraduate course in American history only covered the generic names of Carrie Nation, Al Capone, bootlegger and “speakeasy”; acting more as a few paragraphs for filler between World War One and the Great Depression.

During the 1920’s, in an attempt to reduce the amount of alcohol consumption in the United States, Congress passed The Volstead Act, prohibiting the use and sale of alcohol. Quickly, unforeseen consequences made themselves very apparent. The effects of Prohibition were vast and negative, covering a wide spectrum of social ills. Between the increases in crime, an encouragement of organized crime, and the rise of alcohol use, Prohibition was deemed a disaster.

“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,

William H. Stayton, the founder and leader of the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment, argued that prohibition was a failure (Dudley 94). John Gordon Cooper, a previous railroad worker, believed that prohibition was a success (Dudley 93). Prohibition was a failure because drinking increased and enforcement was failing.

Liquor companies had a lot to lose if the Prohibitions came into effect. In the eyes of the manufacturers and distributers of alcohol women’s suffrage was linked directly to the temperance movement. These companies had the most to lose if women obtained their right to vote. It was widely acknowledged that if women received their right to vote alcohol would be banned within a short period of time.

As we saw in the 1920’s, prohibition caused a huge sky rocket in organized crime. Crime leaders used the illegitimate sale of alcohol to roll in the riches and keep the people happy. The increase in organized crime led to a significant amount of violent crime. For example, The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre was a result of prohibition and distributing alcohol illegally. Once prohibition started, the murder rate doubled. The amount of violence and crime increased drastically because of prohibition being implemented. History has a tendency to repeat itself, so if prohibition were to be enforced again, it would be chaos.

America sits back and thinks prohibition will change something no matter how long it takes effect. Prohibition in america has had little effect since the beginning of the drug war. Since the beginning of the drug war america has climbed to number one in drug usage. The U.S. has the number one drug use rate in the world. (Branson) Along with that America also has 25% of the world’s prison population. Yet America only has 5% of the world’s population. (Jarecki) One of the reasons america has such a high prison population is because of “suspected” drug operations being raided. Police forces began performing paramilitary-style drug raids in 1972. In that year forces only raided a couple hundred houses. In 2015 raid numbers has increased to 80,000

During the 1920s, due to the rise in temperance movements and religious drive to outlaw the consumption of alcohol, Prohibition was officially instated. Unprepared for by the government, a new illegal business opportunity resulted because many Americans were defiant towards the new amendment and were determined to drink as they saw fit. This was the illegal importation and distribution of liquor in the United States. Due to the enactment of Prohibition, the unlawful smuggling of alcohol provided economic opportunities for few but affected the majority with its health, legal, and safety risks.