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Alcoholism In The 1920s Research Paper

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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of its policies as well as an incredible need for jobs during economic recession, prohibition was eventually repealed with the ratification of the 21st amendment.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

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