Prohibition Key Question What is prohibition and why

Prohibition Key Question: What is prohibition and why was it introduced in America in 1920?

What is Prohibition? Prohibition is a nickname for a period of time in America when alcohol became illegal. It has a few different names, the 18 th Amendment and the Volstead Act are two of the more well known ones- but it is fine to simply refer to it as prohibition. The law itself was more complicated than simply, alcohol was banned. The following became illegal: - Selling alcohol - Making alcohol - Transporting alcohol Do you notice anything odd about this law? Well it was not technically illegal to: - Buy alcohol - Drink alcohol This means the law was aimed at the source of alcohol, not on the customers. But in reality it amounts to the same thing, alcohol became a banned substance in America!

Why was it introduced? You probably think the banning of alcohol is a very strange thing to have happened, and you’d be right! Two specific things spring to mind: 1. This decade was known as the ‘Roaring 20 s’, a time of parties, excitement, dancing and jazz. You’d probably think that alcohol would be a part of that. 2. American values are fundamentally about individual liberty and choice. This principal comes up a lot in the modern day during discussion about gun control. The idea of removing the people’s right to access alcohol doesn’t really fit in with this ideal of leaving people alone to make their own choices. So we need to look at why the law was introduced as it is so remarkable.

Why was it introduced? As you can imagine, there were a number of reasons why prohibition became law. A couple of things to consider about the context before you look at them in detail: - - Some individual states had already introduced prohibition years before (23 out of 48 states had banned saloons (pubs or bars) by 1916), so it was not a new concept to the American people. The First World War had just ended when America had been fighting Germany. Now have a look at the nine reasons opposite. You need to divide them into two separate categories. The categories are: 1. 2. Reasons that are moral arguments, moral meaning things to do with the ‘right’ thing to do, religious ideas of things to do with ethics. Reasons that are practical ones, these could be to do with money or are logical. Note: you might think that some fit into both categories! During the war There were several There was a lot of refusing to drink beer well funded political was seen as patriotic. groups who ran pressure from Most beer companies campaigns against religious groups and were owned by German alcohol this included: leaders who argued immigrants and so The Women’s Christian that drinking alcohol was sinful and against stopping drinking beer Temperance Movement the teachings of Jesus. was seen as helping win and the Anti-Saloon the war. League. Many people argued that alcohol abuse amongst men led to social problems like domestic violence, affairs and broken homes. It was argued that alcohol had led many people into poverty who then resorted to crime. There was a concern that beer production (using grain) would cause a nationwide food shortage. People felt that prohibition would strengthen traditional American values. This included working hard, having a close family and being Christian. Industrialists such as Henry Ford were Drinking alcohol was worried that drinking linked to causing affected the numerous health issues productivity of and deadly diseases workers who would such as epilepsy and turn up to work cholera. hungover all the time!

Why was it introduced? Second most important Now that you have categorised them, we’re going to think about how much of an impact these arguments may have had. They were all important, but not equally so. Pressure from religious groups Use your judgment and what you know about America to make judgments on how important they are. You can read the attached textbook pages to help make your decisions. You need to place the causes into a diamond nine formation like the one opposite. The most important reason would go at the top, and the least important would go at the bottom. You can draw this out on your paper, print out a template or complete electronically. I have put in some examples, but they are not the ‘correct’ answers, they are just ideas. You can read the attached textbook pages to help make your decisions. Grain shortage Least important

Review Looking back at the work you’ve done: - Do you think prohibition was introduced more for moral reasons or practical ones? - Which argument do you think would have persuaded American people the most that prohibition was the right thing to do? Why? - Can you foresee any potential problems with completely banning something like alcohol?

Arguments For Prohibtion There was a lot of pressure from religious groups and leaders who argued that drinking alcohol was sinful and against the teachings of Jesus. During the war refusing to drink beer was seen as patriotic. Most beer companies were owned by German immigrants and so stopping drinking beer was seen as helping win the war. There were several well funded political groups who ran campaigns against alcohol this included: The Women’s Christian Temperance Movement and the Anti-Saloon League. Many people argued that alcohol abuse amongst men led to social problems like domestic violence, affairs and broken homes. There was a concern that beer production (using grain) would cause a nationwide food shortage. People felt that prohibition would strengthen traditional American values. This included working hard, having a close family and being Christian. It was argued that alcohol had led many people into poverty who then resorted to crime. Industrialists such as Henry Ford were worried that drinking affected the productivity of workers who would turn up to work hungover all the time! Drinking alcohol was linked to causing numerous health issues and deadly diseases such as epilepsy and cholera.

Diamond 9 Template