Prohibition

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Prohibition
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19th Century Background for Prohibition

• Second Great Awakening sought to remake society
  in God's image.
• This sentiment extended to civic life with the
  formation of thousands of Temperance societies.
• Successful in reducing consumption and
  encouraging stricter state regulation of alcohol.
  

Lyman Beecher was a famous social activist of the
day who was particularly concerned about the
negative impact of alcohol on society.
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Temperance Cartoons
In the 1850 engraving, "The Drunkard's Home," a
cowering family in a squalid home is subjected to
the whims of a brutal patriarch.By contrast, the
1850 engraving, "The Temperance Home," depicts a
scene of domestic harmony, order, affection, and
material comfort.
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Question 1

• 1. According to Beecher, what are the ill effects
  of alcohol on the individual, society, and the
  family?

• 2. Why does Lincoln praise the Washington
  Temperance Society (the "Washingtonians") as a
  more effective temperance promotion agency than
  the old establishment of preachers and lawyers?

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Question Set 2 Temperance Cartoons

• The pair of 1855 illustrations, "Tree of
  Temperance" and "Tree of Intemperance," are rich
  with symbolic and literal depictions of the
  consequences of each lifestyle.

• Identify and list the symbolic aspects in each of
  the "Tree" cartoons.

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The Womens Christian Temperance Union

• The WCTU fought for prohibition and progressive
  reform.
• Frances Willard was the national president of the
  union from 1879 to 1898.
• Focused on suffrage, the 8-hour work day, prison
  reform, and the Social Gospel.

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The Anti-Saloon League

• The Anti-Saloon League focused only on the legal
  prohibition of alcoholic beverages.
• Developed modern lobbying techniques.
• Printed anti-drinking brochures, appealed to
  church members for support, and lobbied both
  lawmakers and businessmen.

Members of the Anti-Saloon League meet in Chicago.
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Question 3 Carrie Nation The Saloon Smasher

• Member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.
• Known for bursting into barrooms, wielding a
  hatchet or hammer, and smashing the saloon.
• Between 1900 and 1910, Nation was arrested some
  thirty times for her aggressive tactics.
• Do you think Carrie Nation's tactics were
  justified? Why or why not?

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The Volstead Act

• The 18th Amendment was ratified in 1919 and took
  effect in 1920.
• The Volstead Act clarified the new rules
  surrounding prohibition.
• President Wilson vetoed the Volstead Act on
  constitutional grounds.
• His veto was overridden by Congress.

Special stamps were required for medicinal
liquors under the Volstead Act.
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Question 4

• 1. What exceptions to prohibition did the
  Volstead Act include?2. What do you think
  Wilson's rationale for being opposed to
  prohibition but supportive of temperance was?

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Songs of Prohibition

• Reaction to Prohibition?
• Speakeasies (illegal bars)
• Bootlegging (smuggling of alcohol)

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Question 5. The crusader

• As you read the Booze Sermon list 3-4 reasons
  why Billy Sunday believes in Prohibition.

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"A Noble Experiment"

• The sale, transport, and consumption of
  intoxicating beverages became illegal.
• Many law-abiding Americans defied the
  regulations.
• The black market for alcohol was a boon for
  organized crime.

Detroit police discover a clandestine still
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Question 6

• Looking at Statistics and LaGuardia and Federal
  Council of Churches readings answer these
  questions
• 1. List some arguments for and against
  Prohibition. Which side of the debate is most
  legitimate to you and why?2. Compare and
  contrast Prohibition to today's War on Drugs. Is
  the war successful? Why/whynot?

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The 21st Amendment

• Prohibition was unenforceable.
• Many deaths occurred from bootleg liquor.
• Political corruption increased.
• Smuggling grew out of control.
• During the Depression the potential jobs and tax
  revenue from the legalization of liquor
  increasingly attractive to struggling Americans.

• Thus, in 1933, the noble experiment of
  Prohibition came to a close with the ratification
  of the 21st Amendment

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Al Capone

• By 1927 he was earning some 60 million a year
  from bootlegging.
• His gang was like a private army. He had 700 men
  under his control.
• He was responsible for over 500 murders.
• On 14th February 1929, Capones men dressed as
  police officers murdered 7 members of a rival
  gang. This became known as the Valentines Day
  Massacre.

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Organized Crime

• The enormous profits to be made attracted
  gangsters who started to take control of many
  cities.
• They bribed the police, judges and politicians.
• They controlled the speakeasies and the
  distilleries, and ruthlessly exterminated their
  rivals.

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The most famous of the gangsters of the 1920s was
Al Capone.
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Gangsters ran bootlegging industries and turned a
huge profit.
Unfortunately, they became rivals with other
gangs, especially in big cities, leading to more
violent crime.