ProhibitionProhibition

17-317-3

ProhibitionProhibition

Reasons to ban alcohol:Reasons to ban alcohol: Reduce unemploymentReduce unemployment Reduce domestic violenceReduce domestic violence Reduce povertyReduce poverty Increase healthIncrease health Increase worker productivity/safetyIncrease worker productivity/safety

ProhibitionProhibition

Eighteenth AmendmentEighteenth Amendment—passed in —passed in 19201920

Volstead ActVolstead Act—U.S. Treasury responsible —U.S. Treasury responsible for enforcing Prohibitionfor enforcing Prohibition POLICE POWERS POLICE POWERS (more than enforcing tax (more than enforcing tax

laws)laws)• Power to control people/property to protect public Power to control people/property to protect public

safety, health, welfare, moralssafety, health, welfare, morals Increase in Federal police powersIncrease in Federal police powers

ProhibitionProhibition

Struggle to enforce ProhibitionStruggle to enforce Prohibition 540,000 arrests, but MANY Americans 540,000 arrests, but MANY Americans

blatantly ignored the lawblatantly ignored the law SpeakeasiesSpeakeasies—illegal bars—illegal bars

32,000 in NYC32,000 in NYC BootleggingBootlegging—illegal —illegal

production/distributionproduction/distribution Prominent in rural areasProminent in rural areas MoonshineMoonshine

Organized CrimeOrganized Crime

Huge profits smuggling liquor from Huge profits smuggling liquor from Canada and CaribbeanCanada and Caribbean

Gangsters had enough money to corrupt Gangsters had enough money to corrupt politicianspoliticians

Organized CrimeOrganized Crime

Al CaponeAl Capone Police, judges, officials on payrollPolice, judges, officials on payroll ChicagoChicago

Eliot NessEliot Ness Brought Capone to justice (for tax evasion)Brought Capone to justice (for tax evasion)

70 feds killed while enforcing Prohibition70 feds killed while enforcing Prohibition

Prohibition EndsProhibition Ends

Twenty-First AmendmentTwenty-First Amendment—(1933) ended —(1933) ended ProhibitionProhibition

Prohibition slightly reduced alcohol Prohibition slightly reduced alcohol consumption, but it didn’t improve society consumption, but it didn’t improve society the way those in the temperance the way those in the temperance movement hopedmovement hoped

Write down three laws that affect your Write down three laws that affect your personal choice and one individual reason personal choice and one individual reason why you think those laws were enactedwhy you think those laws were enacted

Possible AnswersPossible Answers

Smoking in publicSmoking in public Physician-assisted suicidePhysician-assisted suicide Gay marriageGay marriage Medical marijuanaMedical marijuana AbortionAbortion Why do these laws exist?Why do these laws exist? Whose rights are protected, and whose Whose rights are protected, and whose

are violated?are violated?

On the following slide a list of proposed On the following slide a list of proposed laws regulating personal behavior will be laws regulating personal behavior will be displayed. Review each law in pairs and displayed. Review each law in pairs and determine whether or not you agree or determine whether or not you agree or disagree with the law and why.disagree with the law and why.

You do not have to agreeYou do not have to agree

• In an effort to protect young people from overstimulating their young bodies, the Food and Drug Administration is considering a ban prohibiting children under 18 from buying energy drinks.

• Several city council members are concerned about the increased number of bicycle riders on crowded city streets. They are considering enacting an ordinance that would fine any bicycle rider not wearing a helmet on city streets.

• Concerned that individuals might compromise their health and hoping to avoid black marketeering, the federal government is looking to ban organ donations for profit. No person will be allowed to sell his or her organs to organ banks. People can donate organs only when they are deceased.

• Several members of Congress want to repeal a law that would require households to use only energy-efficient light bulbs instead of traditional incandescent light bulbs.

• Several states are considering repealing laws requiring the wearing of seat belts in motor vehicles.

• A school board is considering a ban on cell phones owing to their suspected link to brain cancer and the disruption they cause in class

Why might some people think such laws are Why might some people think such laws are needed? Who might benefit from these laws?needed? Who might benefit from these laws?

How might any of these laws restrict some How might any of these laws restrict some people’s rights? Who might be negatively people’s rights? Who might be negatively affected by them?affected by them?

Do you feel these laws benefit the many at the Do you feel these laws benefit the many at the expense of the few, or the other way around? expense of the few, or the other way around? Explain why.Explain why.

Do you feel these laws should stay as is, be Do you feel these laws should stay as is, be amended, or be repealed? Explain how.amended, or be repealed? Explain how.