Prohibition January 16, 1920- December 5, 1933

Industrialists, like Henry Ford, did not like how alcohol impacted productivity.

The Anti-Saloon League and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. ◦ Women reformers who disliked the link between

alcohol and wife beating and child abuse.

Who Supported Prohibition

Brewing Industry-Made the argument that taxes on alcohol were paying for the War.

Ethnic Americans-Saw alcohol as crucial to their daily lives, and not as a harmful substance.

Who Opposed Prohibition

Supporters of Prohibition succeeded in linking temperance with other social causes.

65% of the U.S. had already banned alcohol. Prohibition became a War Measure: Grain

needed to be used for troops, and not alcohol.

Prohibition Becomes the 18th Amendment

18th Amendment banned the manufacture and sale of alcohol, but not the possession or consumption of alcohol.

Only 2,500 federal agents enforcing Prohibition laws.

Enforcement of Prohibition laws was the responsibility of the Internal Revenue Service.

Logistics of Prohibition

Unenforceable Bootleggers, Speakeasies, Moonshine and

Rum Runners Made beer at home, or had doctor prescribe

medicinal whiskey Corruption and Contempt for Laws and Law

enforcement Organized Crime Glamorization of Anti-Prohibition forces

Bad Points of Prohibition

Corruption of law enforcement-even the president’s attorney general, Harry Daughtery, accepted bribes from bootleggers.

Al Capone’s organization in Chicago had about half the cities police bribed.

Filled the void of alcohol production; Americans wanted alcohol and organized crime supplied.

Organized Crime

Image of the flapper with a hip flask Pop-culture made heroes out of Al Capone

and bootleggers. Moonshiners became folk heroes.

Glamorization of the Bootlegger

Alcohol consumption did decline by 30-50% Deaths from cirrhosis of the liver declined

for men by about a third. At the beginning of Prohibition, alcohol

related deaths declined by 80%, and alcohol related crimes went down. These

statistics did not last long.

Good Points of Prohibition

U.S. needed (legal) jobs and tax revenue during the Great Depression.

Prohibition Comes to an End

Breweries slow to reach their former productivity

Spawned organized crime, made alcohol more popular and created disrespect for the law.

Legacy of Prohibition

First, let’s share the answers you got for questions 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.

Could Prohibition be enacted today? Why or why not?

What would happen if Prohibition was enacted today?

Questions for Reflection

Question: Was Prohibition a success or failure? Why?

One page typed; double spaced; 12 point Times New Roman font.

Due: This Friday

Prohibition Written Reflection Assignment