Prohibition
Prohibition was
the eighteenth amendment. It prohibited the production and consumption of
alcoholic beverages. People would have never thought of “excoriating” alcohol
until the 19th century (Tyrrell 16). During this time widespread crime and
dismay arose. Some beneficial things did come out of this period of chaos such
as women were able to prove themselves as people their temperance movements.
During this time many things happened that led to Prohibition’s strongest point
and to its fall. Prohibition proved to be a failure from the start,. Prohibition
was scarcely adhered to and also widely defied but out of this women had a
chance to voice their opinions and prove themselves.
Article V deals with
amendments. Either house or law makers can propose amendments. In order for an
amendment to be passed the House of Representatives and the Senate must ratify
by three quarters vote. On January 29, 1919, the Secretary of State announced
that on January 16th thirty-six states had ratified the amendment and therefore
it had become a part of the Constitution.
Temperance movements were vital
keys to the ratification of the eighteenth amendment. Temperance at first meant
abstaining from distilled liquors, but later would be the complete avoidance of
alcohol. Both men and women would participate in temperance across the United
States. Women finally had a voice in these issues. Women temperance movements
would include gathering around saloons, pharmacies, and other places that
distributed alcohol that could be consumed. In these gatherings women would sing
prayers, recite psalms, and persuade people to avoid drinking alcohol.
Among
the men of these temperance groups was a Connecticut preacher named Lymm
Beecher. He was well known for his work with temperance movements. He was also
known for his publishing, Six Sermons on the Nature, Occasions, Signs, Evils,
and Remedy of intemperance. He was a pre-prohibition modern day Reverend
Jonathon Edwards by “appealing to the deepest emotions and beliefs of his
readers” (Lucas 24). Ironically he moved to Boston and worked with Reverend
Justin Edwards to unite temperance groups.
Among the women of the temperance
era, Francis Elizabeth Willard was probably one of the most important temperance
leaders. She was born September 23, 1839 in New York. She first got her aversion
towards alcohol by her father because he was a “total abstainer” (Lucas 32). Her
interests in temperance grew when she heard stories of the Women’s Crusades in
Ohio. She joined a team of crusaders in Pittsburg and later became the president
of the Chicago branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). In 1979
she became president of the WCTU in the United States.
Prohibition was
started to prevent crime and
alcoholism, but it actually promoted those things.
During prohibition the mafia arose. With the mafia came Al Capone, also known as
scar face. The mafia was known for their ability to corrupt government officials
into helping them produce and smuggle alcohol. Even as the I.R.S increased their
“snoopiness” towards Capone’s finances was still able to continue his
underground business (Coffey 281). The I.R.S. was able to make many startling
discoveries as well; they found many officials with six to seven figure accounts
off of a $65 month salary. Under the heavy I.R.S. investigations gang related
murders grew.
The twenty first amendment repeals the eighteenth amendment.
The
eighteenth amendment
is the only amendment that has ever been repealed.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt repealed the eighteenth Amendment with the twenty
first Amendment in 1933. This marked the end to a lengthy thirteen year period
of the great experiment, which was prohibition. When the Great Depression began
people complained the prohibition took away jobs and money for the government.
At this period in time, people had little money or hope and alcohol was a way
out.
In conclusion in an effort to limit crime, alcoholism, prostitution,
and poverty the United States government failed, but women had a chance to show
their competency and their ability to voice their opinions. Prohibition did
indeed lead to the birth and growth of organized crime. The great experiment
that was prohibition did not accomplish its goals of solving the social problems
of America or eliminating alcohol consumption. But, it will always be remembered
for causing Americans to reflect on the effects of alcohol on society.
Works Cited
Coffey, Thomas M.
Prohibition in America 1920-1933. New York: W.W. Norton &
Company, 1975.
Lucas, Eileen. The Eighteenth and Twenty-First Amendments. Berkeley Heights:
Enlsow Publishers, Inc, 1998.
Tyrrell, Ian R. Sobering Up. London:
Greenwood Press, 1979.
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