The Effects Of Prohibition

Prohibition Essay
The 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of all alcoholic beverages. Prohibition was approved on December 17th 1917 when the House of Representatives voted 282 to 128(Background Essay). A day later, the Senate agreed to this Amendment. There were many reasons why prohibition went into affect. Americans believed that alcohol was the cause of many major issues. "Corruption, child abuse, crime, unemployment, and worker safety"(Background Essay) were some of the problems that Americans believed were caused by drunkenness. Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller viewed drinking as a "drag on the economy"(Background Essay). The consumption of alcohol led to absent workers and workers who could not perform
Before prohibition many Americans believed that murder rates would decrease if alcohol became illegal. However, this was not the case.The Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Anti-Saloon League, and the Prohibition Party were the main groups that pushed for prohibition(www.thepeoplehistory.com ). In 1919 there were about 7 homicides for every 100,000 people(US Census and FBI Uniform Crime…). In 1933 the rate was 10 out of every 100,000 people(US Census and FBI Uniform Crime…). When prohibition was repealed the rate instantly decreased. In addition to homicide rates, the amount of arrests also increased during this time. In 1920 there were approximately 73 thousand arrests in Philadelphia (druglibrary.org/prohibitionresults3). In 1925 the number was more than 137 thousand(druglibrary.org/prohibitionresults3). Organized crime became more popular and gangsters such as Al Capone, and Bonnie and Clyde thrived during prohibition. Even though alcohol was illegal during this time, people continued to sell and make liquor. Because it was illegal, this caused even more problems and
Even the people who created the amendment did not follow the laws. Illegal production, selling, and transportation of alcohol still took place while prohibition was in affect. Prohibition also put many people out of work. Crime and murder became more common because gangs began to form. Prohibition gangs and gangsters became very wealthy and were able to stay out of jail for the most part. Prohibition did not stop people from drinking alcohol whatsoever. It only created more problems for the country. Americans decided to repeal Prohibition, the 18th Amendment, because it did not help solve any of the major issues that the country