Prohibition in American Society in the 1920s
Overview
- Prohibition Period: 1920 to 1933, when the manufacture and consumption of alcohol were banned across the USA.
- Objective: Aimed to solve societal problems through government legislation.
- Outcome: Prohibition failed and was repealed due to its inability to achieve its goals.
Reasons for Prohibition
- Social Campaigners: Concerned about the social impact of drunkenness, crime, violence, and domestic abuse.
- Temperance Societies: Groups like the Women's Christian Temperance Union opposed alcohol on religious and moral grounds.
- Business Leaders: Believed alcohol reduced worker efficiency.
- Anti-Saloon League: Organized political pressure for banning alcohol.
Legislative Action
- 18th Amendment: Passed in January 1920, banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors.
- Volstead Act (1919): Implemented the 18th Amendment.
- "Noble Experiment": Term used by President Herbert Hoover to describe Prohibition.
Failure of Prohibition
- Unpopularity: Seen as an infringement on personal liberty, leading to widespread disobedience.
- Ineffective Enforcement:
- Only about 1,500 enforcement agents.
- Agents were poorly paid and susceptible to bribery.
- Difficulty in controlling smuggling due to long borders.
- Public Discontent: Many continued to drink in speakeasies or at home.
- Wickersham Commission (1929): Highlighted Prohibition's failure to reduce crime and control alcohol.
Consequences
- Organized Crime:
- Huge profits attracted gangs to the illegal alcohol trade.
- Al Capone in Chicago gained immense wealth and power.
- Increased gang violence and murders, especially in cities like Chicago.
- Corruption: Widespread in legal, justice, and political systems, allowing crime to flourish.
- End of Prohibition: Officially concluded in 1933 due to its detrimental effects.
Related Topics on BBC Bitesize
This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key elements of Prohibition in the 1920s America, highlighting its causes, legislative actions, failures, and consequences.