Prohibition in America 1920-1933 - Essay Example

Prohibition in America 1920-1933 The purpose of this essay is to critically analyze Prohibition. This paper will present research that discusses why it failed. The analysis of the study is achieved in three main sections. Firstly, prohibition is defined as the period of nearly fourteen years of US history in which the manufacture, sale and transportation of liquor was made illegal’ (Rosenberg 2011). Furthermore, the important effects of Prohibition before and after its repeal and its impact on the social habits of ordinary Americans will be discussed.

Finally, the government’s attempts to enforce it and its relationship to the rise of organized crime will be investigated. In 1920, the national policy of Prohibition began. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution had been officially ratified banning the sale, transportation and manufacture of alcohol in the US. ‘The Volstead Act of 1919, also known as the National Prohibition Enforcement Act, gave the 18th Amendment some teeth, clearly defining alcoholic beverage as one with an alcoholic content greater than 0.

5 percent’ (Schultz 1999). But the enforcement of the Act became difficult as many Americans enjoyed liquor and would even break the law to acquire alcoholic beverages. ‘Rum fleets filled with liquor from Europe appeared off the Atlantic coast. As many as sixteen ships at a time would lie at anchor just outside US territorial waters while smaller boats made the run to safe harbors. The Canadian border was a sieve through which liquor easily flowed’ (Coffey 1975). As a result, the liquor flowed even finding its way to White House.

It was a big failure. One of the important effects of Prohibition before repeal includes the declaration of US as officially “dry” from coast to coast. ‘The advocates of Prohibition had waged a 50-year campaign to ban alcohol and had high hopes for this “Noble Experiment”. Supporters anticipated that alcohol’s banishment would lead to the eradication of poverty and vice while simultaneously ennobling the common man to achieve his highest goals’(Coffey 1975). However, there were loopholes for people to legally drink during Prohibition.

For instance, the 18th amendment did not mention the actual drinking of liquor’(Rosenberg 2011). Many people bought cases of “near-beer” or below 0.5% alcohol. As a result, organized crime and smuggling rings burgeoned and home-brewing alcohol became increasingly popular. The gangsters led by Al Capone dominated the alcohol market earning $60 million a year from sales. In the end, the efforts to impose moral codes on the rest of the nation through Prohibition failed. Polls indicate the majority of Americans favored the repeal of the 18th Amendment.

And ‘on December 5, 1933, Utah became the 36th state to vote for ratification assuring the acceptance of the 21st amendment. Prohibition was dead’ (Cofey 1975). However, after the repeal, federal laws regulating the use and trading of intoxicating beverages were formulated. The impact of prohibition on the social habits of ordinary Americans were manifested in the way they continue to enjoy liquor and were more than willing to break the law to acquire alcoholic beverages. They went further by scrutinizing the loopholes in the Amendment just to continue their drinking vices.

However, the government attempted to enforce Prohibition thru the ‘establishment of WCTU and the Anti-Saloon League focusing only on the legal prohibition of alcoholic beverages. The Anti-Saloon League developed modern lobbying techniques that were hugely successful. They even printed and disseminated anti-drinking brochures, appealed to church members for support and lobbied both lawmakers and businessmen’ (Schultz 1999).Because US was officially declared as “dry” the gangsters made millions by addressing the need for an illegal commodity.

Al Capone managed to bribe the police and politicians of Chicago. Works CitedCofey. Thomas, The long thirst: Prohibition in America 1920-1933, Ibis Communications, Inc., 1975.Rosenberg, Jennifer, Prohibition, About.com.20th History, 2011, Web, 4 Apr 2011.Schultz, Stanley, “The Politics of prohibition: The 1920s”, American History 102, Board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System, 1999.