How Did Prohibition Affect Women During The 1920's

In the time of the 1920s, a group of women decided that they were done being shown around like dolls and given no respect. These women wanted rights and to have independence, and to not constantly have to rely on a man to get the job done. They decided to get and hold onto steady jobs and became single, young, middle class women. These women were called flappers. They were ones who went to jazz clubs, vaudeville shows, and danced the Charleston. You could also find them smoking and drinking just like any other man would. Flappers extinguished any social double standards about women that was out there in that time. The look of that time was one that has stood out in history since it was first worn. Bobbed, shoulder length hair, loads of makeup,

Rarely has the world seen such a unique decade in time as the Roaring Twenties. It was an age of prosperity and change. The United States experienced a recession that was followed by a period of unlimited prosperity. Although the United States encountered both positive and negative experiences, it proved to be very influential in the future. The 1920's were definitely "Roaring" in more ways than one. There were major changes in American Society during the 1920's that took place. Many new industries emerged during this decade that influenced society and the American way of life. Even the federal government had different feelings about the business industry. The characteristics of this decade made the 1920's

People did not like the flappers dresses. They "emphatically rejected the style beginning in the 1920s because it did not show the curves of the female body." Their dress was a "boxy shape that hung straight from the shoulders and fell in an unbroken line just below the knees." This type of dress "looked best on flat-chested, small-hipped androgyne who has come to typify the freewheeling, emancipated, working 'Mew Woman ' of the world." Women were "no longer constrained by corsets and long skirts, nor by the discomfort and time it took to dress oneself in such styles." Their dresses had a "loose cut and shirt hemline [which] allowed women unprecedented freedom of movement." Their freedom of movement allowed them more room to dance up closely to men and change the thoughts on women. (Makela)

Thanks to Coco Chanel, the iconic flapper image most closely associated with the roaring twenties came about. The flapper and flapper image didn’t actually come to be until around 1926 and even then was only in style for about three years. Typical flappers were women who appeared to have a bold attitude and were independent women who didn’t adhere to the previously innocent housewife image. A flapper usually had a bob haircut, a shorter than average dress, a flat chest, wore tons of make-up, drank illegal alcohol, smoked with a long cigarette holder, exposed her limbs and danced the Charleston. This was a drastic change from the typical American housewife to the reckless rebel. The flapper dresses stressed above the knee hemlines and construed straight, sleek shapes. This was the first time in centuries women’s legs were being seen in a garment. (1920s Fashion 1) Flappers loved to jazz up their costume and even their image. Many flappers’ dresses were adorned with jewels and intricate beading. The main object of the flapper image was to appear almost boyish rather than looking feminine. (1920s clothing 1)

The 18th amendment stated that the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors was prohibited. Prohibition was a nationwide ban on all alcohol. The 18th amendment had three main goals. One goal was that they wanted to eliminate drunkenness due to it resulting in abuse of family members. Another goal was to shut down saloons because they attracted prostitutes and housed lots of gambling. The last main goal of the 18th amendment was to prevent on the job accidents and absenteeism. Were they successful?

With the introductions of the Model T, the assembly line and the method of mass production created many new jobs. The Model T 's low price allowed everyone that was making a good salary to buy a car. It helped out society by giving people jobs especially at around this time when there was a lot of immigration in the United States and people needed jobs. "This vast production stimulated many other businesses: The steel, rubber, and glass industries flourished. Construction companies boomed as highways and garages were built. Oil companies, rapidly losing their kerosene business to the spread of electricity, more than made up for it with increased gasoline sales."(Gordon) As a whole it changed the economy at the time but in the long run it changed what society is today. It created mass production which is now our way of production and it changed all of working America with the numerous amounts of jobs it created. "As more Americans owned cars, urbanization patterns changed. The United States saw the growth of suburbia, the creation of a national highway system, and a population entranced with the possibility of going anywhere anytime." (http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blford.htm)

    Prohibition caused gangs and organized crime to thrive in the 1920’s. Big gangsters made fortunes off of bootlegging, or the illegal make and distribution of alcohol, and speakeasies, illegal clubs or bars that sold alcohol. Al Capone of Chicago was one of the most well known gangsters of the time. He made up to $60 million dollars annually bootlegging and running speakeasies

The invention of the automobile has many positive results that have drastically changed society and the way we do things. Henry Ford helped revolutionize the production and assembly line for automobiles. Over 4.25 million people work directly in the automotive industry such as car dealers, car repair shops, and automotive stores. This is one the largest industries in the world and has been since Henry Ford manufactured the Model T. Without cars people wouldn't be able to get around so fast and this invention made life so much easier. President Roosevelt's New Deal programs created thousands of miles of roadway across the United States. This

In the 1920’s the 18th amendment was passed: Prohibition. This was the ban of the sale, distribution and manufacturing of alcohol. Protestors calling for a better family environment helped to pass this amendment. Prohibition had an enormous affect on the 20’s and 30’s, it helped to shape the culture of the decades. The 18th amendment was meant to improve the economy and lower the crime rates; it did the exact opposite.

According to class lecture Prohibition was designed in the 1920s’ to restriction of the production, sale, transportation, importation, and exportation of alcoholic beverages, began when the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution went into effect on January 16, 1920. It also appears that the prohibition act was because of the women’s rights and to increase morality all together because after all alcohol is the second consumption that kills people. Roosevelt was also trying to prove that the people were not as strong as federal law. Little did he know that it did the direct opposite. The liquor was produced by gangs and caused a lot of wars between gangs to see what turf the gangs had, soon major cities had a lot of crime and criminals.

The purpose of prohibition was to improve worker’s efficiency and focus, reduce overall crime rates, and improve the health of American citizens. Instead, this forced the people to rebel against the law to get their alcohol. In any “wet” (people or places that were against prohibition) city or town one could find somewhere in secret to get an alcoholic beverage. The most common place to get a drink was speakeasy, which was a secret room in the back of a restaurant or store where there was live music and alcohol. Prohibition had little known success in preventing the consumption of alcohol in the 1920’s, the 18th amendment was later repealed for its minimal impact on the US.

The temperance movement and Christian leaders thought that by outlawing alcohol it would reduce crime and intoxication during Prohibition, however, crime rates increased and the legal system became overburdened. I will explain some key events that led up to Prohibition and notorious syndicates that were popular during the time and to today’s historians. Finishing off I will outline crime statistics that coincided with the dry era and show how Prohibition did or did not have an impact on these figures.

The role of women in war has varied significantly throughout British History. During world War 1 womens role was constricted as many worked in the industry of textiles , knitting and munitions. This said they played a pivotal role in the war effort as 23.8 million in britain were all working. Voluntary and paid positions were taken up as unfamiliar roles to women, Nevertherless this was recquired in order to sustain the living of many families. World War 1 illustrated the capability of women in wokring across a variety of fields. However the effort from women was arguably taken out of context. Despite the rise in pay , women still earned less then men. They held the responisibility of working as a generation of men went to fight. This covered munitions, police patrols and even nursing.Women worked in horendous conditions and accidents were far too frequent in factories. A TNT plant killed 73 people and also leading to the destruction of nearby homes. Furthermore the collective effort was extraordinary , the workers of one factory in Gloucestershire within the four years filled over 17 million shells(BBC world war 1).Opportunities in civil service increased by 1,751 %.

As the Mafia grew in America, they prospered off illegal gambling and prostitution. It wasn't until 1919 with the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution that the Mafia really gained power. The 18th amendment banned the distribution and manufacturing of alcoholic beverages in America (Prohibition 2). Although this amendment meant nothing but good, it did the exact opposite to America. While politicians saw an improved nation with this amendment, criminals saw green. Americans now thought drinking as a thrill, it was something illegal that they can do but get away with. It was the rush of getting away with it that made speakeasies so popular. Speakeasies were Mafia-run entertainment clubs, consisting of an open bar of the finest bootlegged liquor along with dining and entertainment (Prohibition 5).

women were not allowed to go out alone. They had to be escorted by a