PROHIBITION

WHAT IS PROHIBITION

• A period of American history which banned the manufacture, transportation, and sale of intoxicating liquors
• Made possible through the 18th Amendment

CAUSES

• Discrimination - immigrants were largely associated with being morally corrupt
• 16th Amendment/ income taxes - the 16th Amendment replaced alchohol taxes for the federal government and were no longer making money off it
• Morality - religious organizations believed that less alcohol consumption would lead to less crime, spousal abuse, and raise piety in America

CAUSES

• World War I - President Woodrow Wilson signed the Shepard Act (1916) to ban alcohol in Washington D.C. Almost did not sign, but if he vetoed it then it would split the party right before the war
• Women’s suffrage - most women supported it to prevent abuse at home and maintain a civilized lifestyle.

SPEAKEASIES

• An illicit liquor store or nightclub
• Had hidden sections in the establishment used to store alcohol
• Almost every speakeasy included jazz and a lot of dancing

SPEAKEASIES

• Revolves around organized crimes and gangs
• Gangs gained wealth due to the constant need for alcohol

TEMPERANCE GROUPS

• Methodist Board of Temperance, Prohibition, and Public Morals - pushed for prohibiton’s aggressive enforcement and tried to stop any criticism regarding it
• Ku Klux Klan - also known as the second KKK and was one of the major supporters of the movement

EFFECTS

• Speakeasies
• Organized crime
• Corruption of public officials
• Crime
• Job loss
• Tax loss
• Disrespect for law
• Disrespect for religion
• Glorification of gangsters
• Increase in illegal drug use
• Increase in drinking

-ended December 5, 1933
- effects were different then intended and had mainly a negative impact on America