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How Did Prohibition Affect The Great Gatsby

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The ban on the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcohol, in the United States, began with the ratification of the 18th Amendment in 1919 and was called The Prohibition. The ban lasted for 13 years and ended in 1933 with the passing of the 21 Amendment. Prohibition was inspired by earlier temperance movements by certain religious institutes. It was considered a test and failed horribly. Alcohol became even more prevalent especially in the upper class and it boosted economies of the Caribbean Islands. This could be seen in the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The main character associated with alcohol was Gatsby himself. Although the Prohibition had good intentions, the Prohibition saw a large increase in organized crime, widespread petty crimes and encroached on personal rights. Even before the Prohibition was being thought about, there were temperance movements happening for centuries before. These ideas are largely credited to the 2nd Great Awakening and the advancement of religious freedom. The idea of alcohol being disallowed was mainly support by Calvinist groups such as the Presbyterians. With religion having a much more profound impact back then on …show more content…

They began to employ what they claimed was a "scientific," fact-based approach. As the Progressive Era began around the turn of the twentieth century, the advocates of temperance supported their religious arguments with various scientific reasons. Studies found that alcohol limited motor reaction, caused issues with nerve centers controlling the heart, interfered with digestion, and worsened diseases. Organizations like the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, under the leadership of Frances Willard, used the new scientific findings to their benefit. They advocated compulsory instruction about temperance in public schools and wrote textbooks on the

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