The 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution banned the production, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages.
- Women were strongly behind this amendment because they felt that "alcohol was seen as the destroyer of families and marriages." Men would spend their money on alcohol, and often not leave enough for their wives to take care of children with.
- Factory owners were for it because early mornings and late nights were required of their workers.
- Progressives liked it because they saw it as continuing their work on making society a better place.
In the beginning, the amendment worked. Fewer were consuming alcohol, fewer were being arrested for things they did under the influence of alcohol. The price of obtaining alcohol illegally rose so high that regular workers couldn't afford it.
The United States Brewers' Association said that consumption only dropped 50%, and this told us something about the obedience to the law in our nation. There were just as many if not more people who wanted to keep drinking than the progressives themselves, which would make enforcing the law extremely difficult.
Illegal sales and use of alcohol spread aggressively, and the government began giving up on trying to protect every border and river used for distribution. The people began thinking of clever ways to trick the prohibition agents, such as hip canteens, hollow canes, fake books, ect.
After a while, authorities would no longer commit to keeping people sober. After five years of prohibition, the amendment was repealed on December 5th, 1933.
I'm glad for the attempt at solving problems with alcohol. It may not have worked, but I'm sure it opened the eyes of many Americans as to what it was doing to society, and especially the disobedience the law.
Comments
Good job Cam!