Preview

How did the Prohibition Change the United States of America (USA)? And why was it a failure?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1498 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How did the Prohibition Change the United States of America (USA)? And why was it a failure?
The word "Prohibition" as stated in the World Book encyclopaedia "refers to laws that are designed to prevent the drinking of alcoholic beverages." The enforcement of the Volstead Act in the United States of America (USA) saw the nationwide beginning of the prohibition on the 16th of January 1920. The Prohibition brought about a change in attitude for the people of the United States (USA). It caused an extreme rise in crime; encouraging everyday people to break the law and increased the amount of liquor that was consumed nationwide. Overall this law was a failure because a law can not be enforced on a democratic society with out the support of a majority. The effect of this mistake (prohibition) lingered on American (USA) society for many years to follow.

Before the Prohibition the people of the United States of America had high moral standards, were more conservative and in many ways experienced less freedom both socially and economically. Before the Prohibition period the crime rate was relatively low compared with pre - prohibition figures. There was a "78 percent increase in crime" from those crime rates that were recorded before the Prohibition. Alcohol consumption in pre - prohibition in years had begun to drop since 1910, however this may have been due to the fact that "between 1880 and the beginning World War One in 1914 many states had adopted...state wide Prohibition." Before Prohibition occurred nationwide, the economic boom of the 1920's (also known as the Roaring Twenties) had not yet taken place, therefore the changes in attitude amongst the people of the United states were not yet established, consequently pre - prohibition years were times of less social freedom, more conservatism and some would argue higher moral standards. Due to these higher moral standards some groups believed Prohibition was a necessary measure in the creation of a society free from evils and less tainted in the old ways - meaning a society where crime rates, poverty, and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Prohibition era began with the ratification of the 18th Amendment. The 18th Amendment banned the manufacturing, transportation, and sale of all intoxicating liquors. It is important to note that the 18th Amendment only banned the manufacturing, sale, and transport of liquor while it did not ban the possession or consumption. This loophole made it possible for a small percentage to produce liquor before the amendment was ratified and they could serve it throughout the Prohibition era legally. The 18th Amendment proved to be impossible to fully enforce. During this era the illegal production and sale of liquor increase. Speakeasies which were illegal secret establishments where people would come to drink liquor were also on the rise. Organized crime and racketeering dominated in many areas, especially urban areas such as Chicago.…

    • 410 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 1920s were a time of innovation and progress, and American society was changing. 1919 brought the ratification of the 18th amendment, also known as the Prohibition. According to Dictionary.com, the term “Prohibition” means to forbid (an action, activity, etc.) by authority or law. Although many thought that the Prohibition of alcohol would be a remedy for society, it ultimately caused more problems than it solved. From increased homicide rates to bootlegging and illegal smuggling, the Prohibition, also known as the Volstead Act, caused major issues for the American government. The 18th Amendment was repealed due to its negative effects on American society.…

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Julia Audiffred American Literature-8 Walsh December 08 2016 Prohibition and the Roaring 20s The roaring 20s was a crazy time for all Americans. Many of them started moving out of their comfortable farms and into big, busy cities. “For the first time more Americans lived in cities than in farms (history.com Staff).” The whole nation's wealth was affected, mostly in a good way.…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Doc F reflects crime data related to homicides that show steady increases throughout the period of Prohibition. In fact, the data indicates a 45% increase from 1920 to 1933! To make this worse, the intended benefit of reducing alcohol consumption was not even being achieved. Data reflected in Doc E shows that by 1923 alcohol consumption was already higher than what it was in 1918, two years before the constitutional amendment was ratified. Doc E shows consumption continued to grow throughout the period of Prohibition. A lot of normal jobs were shut down during the time of prohibition and new jobs related to the illegal activity surrounding the manufacture and distribution of alcohol were created. Doc B, an excerpt from “The Rumrunners, a prohibition scrapbook” makes the case that Prohibition was a great success for “the bootleggers, the rumrunners and gangsters, the roadhouse proprietors, the police, the magistrates, the spotters, the boaters and armies of others.” All these new jobs were illegal which increased crime in many areas. Prohibition failed to reduce consumption, created a lot of illegal jobs and led to an increase in…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prohibition started in 1920, and ended in 1933. The Eighteen Amendment, and the Twenty-first amendment were involved. They thought that by making Prohibition, things were going to be better and successful for the US, but instead it was the opposite. Crime increased bad, people started stealing more and killing just so they can get what they wanted. They would do anything they can because people wanted to drink. Drinking wasn’t prohibit, only selling, manufacture, and production. So people started selling on the low, the illegal manufacturing and sale of liquor known as “bootlegging”. This went on for almost a decade, and it just got worse and worse. What affected the most was that business and economy went down, because they weren’t selling and they weren’t making money. And the US couldn’t afford that, because they needed the money.…

    • 446 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Alcohol was thought to be the source of several of the nation’s problems. Issues like domestic violence, unemployment and poverty. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union first introduced the idea of prohibition, the illegalization of the buying, selling or consumption of alcohol. Prohibition was made official in 1919 as Nebraska became the 36th state to ratify the proposal. Prohibition took effect one year later in 1920. In the beginning, prohibition had an overwhelming amount of popularity from most of the country however Americans quickly changed their mind. Prohibition ended in 1933 with the 21st amendment to the Constitution. The increase in crime across the nation, several negative financial aspects of prohibition, and the eventual increase in corruption and loss of national restriction were all factors in the nation’s sudden change of heart.…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why did Prohibition fail, and why was it repealed? The roots of this problem lay in the wording of 1920’s Volstead Act, a piece of federal legislation. Specifically, the Volstead Act mandated “concurrent enforcement” of prohibition—that is, enforcement through federal laws and agencies as well as by state and local laws and agencies. While lawmakers argued that the Volstead Act would translate into extensive enforcement, in practice it meant the opposite. For example, in states where many residents did not desire prohibition, such as New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, state “prohibition” laws actually violated the Volstead Act by permitting some wines and beer.…

    • 495 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The 1920s is always referred as “the roaring 20s”. Significant and multiple changes in lifestyle and culture occurred. However, there were also some negative effects. After the 18th Amendment was passed by Congress on December 18,1917, the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol was prohibited. Along with the Prohibition, the rate of organized crimes increased.…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The “Roaring Twenties” marked the change in American culture forever. Between the new inventions, upbeat jazz music, parties and theatres, America had adopted a newfound racy culture. Life’s possibilities and leisure freedoms had been greatly broadened, that is until the 18th amendment passed. On January 17th, 1920, the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol were prohibited across the nation. Referred to as prohibition, the American government used this amendment as an experiment to see if alcohol was truly at blame for the rising problems in the nation. However, 13 years after enacted, the 18th amendment was repealed by the 21st. The repeal of the 18th…

    • 840 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    When Americans went dry during the 1920s, they didn’t know how history would be changed. America then changed its mind about Prohibition due to a rise in crime, a lack of law enforcement, and a loss of potential tax revenue.…

    • 310 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prohibition was one of the main changes to society during the Roaring 20’s. Prohibition was a ban all on distribution, production and consumption of alcohol and was created in 1919. Prohibition began because of the societal issues caused by drinking. Some of these issues included parents not being able to support their family because they spent all their money on alcohol, abusive drunks and underage drinking. In Document 1 an excerpt from…

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prohibition was a black eye in the history of the United States. Prohibition started in 1920 and ended in 1933. Prohibition cause more harm than good in the U.S. in the length of time that it was in effect. Prohibition was instituted with ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution on January 16, 1919, and went into effect in the 1920’s. Congress passed the "Volstead Act" on October 28, 1919, to enforce the law. Most big cities and most states did not like this, so much so, that they didn’t enforce this law and kept selling, buying, and drinking alcohol; in fact, most of the Police officers and government officials themselves were still consuming, buying, and selling alcohol. So really, what was the point of it? This made many criminals who took advantage of Alcohol being illegal and made huge profits.…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the roaring twenties, society began evolving into political and industrialize perspectives which allow growth in many different aspects of life. The events occurred during this period exceed the feminine rights to vote and show prospects in equality of gender. However, many illegal activity began due to the eighteenth amendment enacted on January 16th, 1920. The eighteenth amendment was ratified to decrease drunkenness and family abuse when consumed alcohol. The prohibition interdicted the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcohol in the United States. Thus, contributed in the creation of bootlegging liquor business as a complex criminal enterprise and many other illegal activities.…

    • 1341 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Even as law enforcement, jails, and prisons became more costly, support for prohibition was lessening by the late 1920’s. In addition, fundamentalist and nativist forces had taken more authority over the temperance movement (“Prohibition”). With the country mired in the Great Depression by the early ‘30s, creating jobs and revenue in the united States was an objective. By legalizing the manufacture, transportation, and sales of liquor had an undeniable appeal to many. Ending Prohibition would also decrease crime rates and gang violence in the United States. Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt ran for president and was the selected candidate said that he is for Prohibition’s removal…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Starting in the early 1800’s, the temperance movement sought to moderate or outright prohibit the consumption of alcohol. Eventually, in January 1919, the United States ratified the 18th Amendment to the Constitution banning the sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol in the entire country. It’s purpose was to reduce crime and corruption, to minimize the tax burden, and to promote a healthier living in America. In contrast to its goal, it evidently heightened the contrary desired outcome. Although against popular belief, prohibition wasn’t what started mob crime, it only fueled it. Poverty arose after a downturn in the economy and later, once a sudden rise in prosperity occurred, the Great Depression resulted. People started to either…

    • 168 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays