18th and 19th Amendments - Research Paper Example

 Comparision of 18th and 19th Amendment Based on the Purpose of Their Passage, Their Base of Support, The Struggles of Achieving Passage and the Ramifications Upon the Nation Laws are meant for common good but when it comes to age-old vices of the society, some of them come stumbling down the steep and tricky gorges of human nature; some of them survive and acquire strength to become a beacon of human equality and well being. Both the 18th and 19th amendments to the American Constitution and their implementation history show such a complex path of rise and fall. The 18th amendment, that came into effect between 1920 and 1933, prohibited manufacture, selling and transportation of alcohol in the country (Henretta et.al., 2007, p.651-654). The 19th amendment was ratified in 1920, which made constitutional the right of every citizen to caste vote in elections without being discriminated on the basis of race or gender. (Henretta et.al., 2007, p.576-584). The alcohol prohibition amendment had to be later repealed as there was “wide spread abuses of…(the)… law” (Olson et. al., 1985, p.6). But the 19th amendment stood the test of time and despite the attempts to legally contest it, the amendment was endorsed by Supreme Court as part of the Constitution (Henretta et. al., 2007, p.651-654). The 18th amendment had become a historical necessity because of the poverty and economic backwardness that grew in the society, as associated with drinking. In the first century and half of the colonial rule in America, drinking was considered quite a normal entertainment activity (Olson et.al., 1985, p.4). Though drunkenness was considered as a vice, the blame always went to the drinker, not to those who manufactured or sold alcohol (Olson et.al., 1985, p.5). But slowly, people came to understand the real nature of alcohol that is addictive and unhealthy. Thus alcohol came to be identified with poverty, breakage of peace in the family and also in the social fabric as well. Late 1800s and early 1900s saw the formation of temperance societies which campaigned against alcoholism (Olson et.al., 1985, p.5). Though by 1916, 23 states enacted prohibition laws, it was the 18th amendment, passed in 1920, that applied prohibition to the whole of nation (Olson et.al., 1985, p.6). The major drawback of this legislation which eventually led to its repeal (owing to being ineffective), was that it only prohibited manufacture, sale and transportation of liquor, while possession, consumption or home production were not banned (Olson et.al., 1985, p.6). The amendment had given a one year relaxation period to clear the existing stocks but this omission further weakened the legislation. There were several violations of the law in the next few years. Illegal marketing flourished on one side while government lacked the will to enforce the law strictly. It was the failure of the law as well as the economic crisis that faced the nation that finally prompted the government to repeal the law (Olson et.al., 1985, p.8). Liquor sale started to be viewed as a new income generating source for the state and in 1933, and the futility of prohibition proven beyond doubt, Roosevelt enacted the 21st amendment which called back the 18th amendment. The 19th amendment was also the result of a long standing demand and agitation from the side of women’s groups for woman suffrage. As early as in 1872, a woman had tried to cast vote in a poll and had been arrested for that, as women were not legally allowed to vote (New York Times, June 5, 1919). The constitutions of different states of America had provisions which denied woman suffrage and many senators and politicians had tried to stall the 19th amendment based on these archaic provisions (The New York Times, June 5, 1919). Various states further made delays in ratifying the amendment and woman suffrage campaigners had to continue their struggle many more months (The New York Times, February 14, 1920). The National American Woman Suffrage Association, the organization which spearheaded the campaign was at times caught in political quagmire (The New York Times, February 13, 1920). But sooner or later, woman suffrage was accepted as the need of the time by the whole of nation. The 19th amendment was the beginning of a new era in the global society. To the nation, it was a brave step towards better democracy and equality in their real sense. By accepting women as equal citizens, this amendment paved way to a series of chain reactions which addressed the issue of equal rights for women in all walks of life. The 18th amendment, though repealed has also left an everlasting impression on American society. The “colonial and temperance views” on drinking were replaced by a more scientific approach to the issue of alcoholism, which considered alcoholism as a disease rather than a moral issue (Olson et. al., 1985, p.8). Attention was rightly refocused to minimizing the harmful effects of drinking (Olson et. al., 1985, p.8). The 18th amendment also through its practical implementation experience, made the society realize the role of more democratic means like awareness creation and NGO intervention to solve the problem. Both these amendments were the off springs of what is called the progressive era in American history (Henretta, 2007, p.574-575). This is the period that lies between 1890 and 1920 (Henretta, 2007, p.574-575). Purification of the system was the motto of this era and both the 18th and 19th amendments were tools for the progressives to bring in purity in social life. The 18th amendment came as a hard blow to the liquor saloons and the political clout that was nourished by them (Henretta et.al., 2007, p. 651-654). It was the emerging middle class that became the back bone of all these reforms. Both the 18th and 19th amendments had as their major beneficiaries, the women of the country, either directly or indirectly. The 18th amendment was also an attempt to make their lives more secure and peaceful while the 19th amendment gave those, equal rights and self respect. References Henretta et.al., (2007)  America's History, Volume 2 Since 1865, ed.6, New York: Bedford/St. Martin's. Olson et. al. (1985) Alcohol in America: Taking action to prevent abuse, Washington DC: National Academies Press. The New York Times (June 5, 1919), Suffrage wins in senate; Now goes to states, Retrieved from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1920womensvote.html Read More