ipl-logo

Alcoholism In The 1920s Research Paper

1712 Words7 Pages

Nehemiah Gomendoza Miriam Barton EN102 Online 12 April 2024 Research Essay In the 1920’s, alcoholism and its consumption was seen as a great evil that corrupted American society. The push for criminalizing alcohol consumption resulted in the enactment of the 18th amendment -- the notorious prohibition amendment that banned alcohol consumption and production. Initially, there was widespread support from individuals of all backgrounds -- from philosophers and activists arguing the morality of alcohol dependence to economists in academia who postulated a boosted economy. However, after much difficulties in enforcing the circumvention of its policies as well as an incredible need for jobs during economic recession, prohibition was eventually repealed with the ratification of the 21st amendment. Looking back, historians and …show more content…

Because of the incredibly wide variety of formerly permissible jobs now unemployed, in a prominent journal in New York, an anonymous individual remarked that “‘[i]t is a wonder to me that the Prohibitionists can sleep. [as they] have thrown thousands of honest men out of work and caused great hardships’” (qtd. in Slavicek 57). Clearly, at the time, the Great Depression was an external factor policymakers were not able to take account of, but at the time, it would have been reasonable to assume that this outrage would pass once individuals found jobs. Yet, with no sacrifice in employment and productivity being negotiable, Prohibition also came to its bitter end. Thirdly, the untaxed profits and removal of a massive industry exacerbated the effects of the Great Depression and resulted in an economic downturn. In the journal article detailing both positions, Jones notes that even the most staunch advocates for Prohibition realized that the lower taxation would have to be accounted for

Show More
Related

How Did The Great Depression Abolish The 18th Amendment

1389 Words | 6 Pages

In the timeline of the Great Depression from 1929 to 1939, the U.S. government has decided to sign a legislation which has promoted the production and trade for alcohol which was since banned by the 18th amendment. This promotion is known as the 21st amendment and this amendment was significantly legislated in the time of the Great Depression. Therefore, there is a connection between the publication of the 21st amendment and the Great Depression. Therefore, the connection between the Great Depression and the 21st amendment would utilized for a question of “To what extent, did the Great Depression abolish the 18th amendment?”.

Read More

How Did The Reform Affect The Economy In The 1930's

441 Words | 2 Pages

In the 1930’s America was going through a difficult time with the economy due to the stock market crashing and banks failing. Many Republican politicians were convinced that ressisons were normal for a thriving economy and that America was just at that bottom slope again like after World War I. For a while the American people fell for it but come next election we’d see a new idea for the economy, a new reform led by Franklin Roosevelt. March 4th, 1933 was the moment many would say that change was brought to the American economy. For almost four years the American people were stuck in poverty and couldn't get any relive or aide to rise anyone out and still by this time prohibition was in motion.

Read More

Two Events In US History Between 1920-1940

723 Words | 3 Pages

These jobs typically help students complete their education. Without programs like the NYA, lots of parents would be unable to provide for their families, and their children wouldn't be able to receive the necessary education. Furthermore, the Great Depression prompted a fundamental reconsideration of the government's impact on the economy and society. Though the impacts of the Great Depression are now gone as time passes, its principles still act as a reminder of the vulnerability of wealth and the importance of unity throughout times of struggle. The Prohibition Era began in 1920, when the Act of Volstead progressed, prohibiting the manufacturing, transportation, and sale of alcoholic drinks.

Read More

Prohibition's Positive Effects On Society

822 Words | 4 Pages

Finally, Stayton counters the pro-Prohibitionist’s argument that prohibition has led to an increased spending in other markets and therefore, produced a stronger economy, with a two-pronged argument. First, Stayton appeals to the fact that Prohibition was enacted not to improve the nation’s economy, but rather its morality, which Stayton has thoroughly proved was degraded throughout the time of Prohibition. Secondly, he argues that the observed increase in consumer spending is due in fact to the wide availability of items which can be purchased in installments and owes nothing to

Read More

DBQ Essay: The Role Of Prohibition In The United States

813 Words | 4 Pages

The country was trying to control America’s alcohol problems by law. The ban on alcohol worsened America’s alcohol problem, in fact, it did quite the opposite of its intention. All caused by prohibition, America had an increased crime rate, death rate, and to top it off, America was losing slathers of money.

Read More

Prohibition Dbq Essay

877 Words | 4 Pages

Alcohol was one of the prominent industry in the United States. In 1914, the alcohol tax revenue reached 226,000,000. Prohibition’s supporters expected the rise in the sales of other products like clothing, household goods, and other beverages. Instead, it deteriorated other industries. Breweries, distilleries and saloons closed their doors.

Read More

Repeal The 18th Amendment Essay

644 Words | 3 Pages

As shown by the political cartoon made by Winsor McCoy, acts of organized crime made by gangsters, racketeers, bootleggers, and dope sellers (with the help of the Prohibition) led to the Great Depression. With all of these factors eventually leading to the largest economic downfall in United States history, it’s easy to see why American citizens wanted to remove the ban on alcohol. Also, the FBI Uniform Crime Reports show the number of homicides increased during Prohibition and decreased after Prohibition. In the crime report, the homicide rate increased from 7 homicides per 100,000 people to 10 homicides per 100,000 people during the Prohibition, and decreasing to 6 homicides per 100,000 people. This evidence points to the fact that crime and criminal activity played a huge part in the removal of the 18th

Read More

Last Call: The Rise And Fall Of Prohibition By Daniel Okrent

1374 Words | 6 Pages

“If a family or a nation is sober, nature in its normal course will cause them to rise to a higher civilization. If a family or nation is debauched by liquor, it must decline and ultimately perish.” -Richmond P. Hobson, in the U.S. House of Representatives, December 22, 1914 The first two chapters of “Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition” provide the readers with an overview of the historical, political, and cultural factors that set in stone the prohibition movement in America. Okrent fills his book with complexities and contingencies to help his readers better grasp the concept.

Read More

Why Is Prohibition Important In The 1920s

2114 Words | 9 Pages

On January 16, 1920, America went dry. Along with the ratification of the 18th amendment on that day, the Prohibition Era of the United States began and lasted for 14 years long. The prohibition amendment ruled that the manufacture, transportation, imports, exports and sale of intoxicating liquor for beverage purposes were all restricted or considered illegal. This unprecedented degree of government interference in the private lives of Americans brought irrevocable impact to the country since alcohol was one of the most significant pastimes in human history. However, its promotion was utterly loud in the society back to the 1920s, supporters were those who believed in absolute morality and those who would benefit from the absence of drinks.

Read More

Perception Changed: Prohibition In The 1920's

790 Words | 4 Pages

America: A Perception Changed Prohibition, the age of ‘dry states’, illegal drinking, and, all in all, the height of organized criminal activity; veterans joined the crime as a last option, vulnerable humans ran the streets unemployed and looking for a way to drown their sorrows. Organized criminals defiantly took advantage of the “Roaring Twenties” misfortunes, they provided illegal alcohol to the people, gave jobs to the unemployed, who needed the lucrative labor, and drove the number of alcoholics up the wall in droves. “The arrests under the Volstead Act from 1920- 1929 reached 550,307 with 1928 having the highest at 75,307 arrests” (Volstead). With Mafia members, like Al Capone, taking the cake on headliners, the people of America slowly

Read More

What Are The Causes Of Prohibition In The Progressive Era

1197 Words | 5 Pages

“Thus came prohibition to the United States. Middle-class Americans—striving to revitalize and preserve American democracy and to usher in a new era of humanity, achievement, and progress—turned to prohibition as one device to achieve their goals.” (Callow) The Prohibition was a time where in the United States the sale and consumption of alcohol was illegal from 1920-1933. It was the 18th amendment which prohibited alcohol in the United States and it states, “The manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.”

Read More

What Was The Temperance Movement In The 1800's

842 Words | 4 Pages

Many people thought that the prohibition laws would be beneficial in the long run, which it did reduce the number of arrests due to drunkenness, but would prove to be a big problem for the economy. The support and glorification for prohibition backfired on the people and the government proving to cause more problems than they could fix. Alcohol sales brought a lot of tax revenue and now that it is against the law to sell any alcohol the country was not getting any money. The evidence shows how important alcohol was to the economy. On top of the economy losing such a successful good, the government had to pay a lot more than what they were receiving for enforcing the law.

Read More

Prohibition In The 1920s

175 Words | 1 Pages

In 1932, President Franklin Roosevelt ran for President claiming to repeal prohibition. He won the campaign and a year later was then that the repeal became official with Utah ratifying the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Two organizations were created due to America’s love affair with ‘drink’ is the Prohibition Party and the Woman’s Christian Temperance (Carlson, p. 37). Both organizations still exist to this day. The anti-saloon league was the most significant organizations during the time of prohibition.

Read More

Why Is Prohibition Important In The Great Gatsby

734 Words | 3 Pages

The following about banning liquor is said by “Tuggleb”; “This, as is the case even today with illegal industries, led to a black market and, consequently, a radical increase of citizens’ wealth who were willing to take advantage of this spiked demand.” (College of

Read More

Prohibition Causes

1706 Words | 7 Pages

The Causes, Effects, and On-going Results of Prohibition in America In the wake of World War 1, the Roaring Twenties was an era for celebration, renewal, and a number of glamourized activities. Between flappers, the Charleston, organized sports, and jazz music, the people of the twenties lived joyous lives—until one of the most common activities came to a legal standstill on January sixteenth, 1920. Defined as the historical 1920-1933’s ban on the manufacture, storage, transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of intoxicating beverages, the Prohibition marked the beginning of a corrupted decade for the American people, in which immense change and frequent debate ruled over achieving the American dream (Wikipedia). While the topic of

Read More

More about Alcoholism In The 1920s Research Paper

Open Document