Prohibition

Prohibition

Alcohol prohibition was started in the United States in 1920. It was started due to the 18th Amendment, which was passed by congress in January 1919 (Miron). Prohibition was the legal prohibition of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic drinks for common consumption (“Why Prohibition?”). Which meant that possession, manufacturing, and selling alcohol was made illegal. This caused a rise in the demand for alcoholic beverages because it achieved a “forbidden fruit” effect, although the supply was obviously severely decreased because of its illegalization (Miron). In a way, banning alcohol made it more popular and more sought after, you could even say that it helped the alcohol business. The prohibition also raised the amount of violent and non-violent crime in most neighborhoods across America, which had brought concern among citizens and government officials alike. It also decreased the quality and safety of alcoholic beverage, some of which were still around even though it was illegal. The prohibiton, in some cases and areas, didn’t reduce the amount of alcohol present; but forced consumers to find a more stealthy way of drinking (“Prohibition as a Wartime Measure”). Many consumers resorted to visit local “speakeasies”, which were bars that sold alcoholic beverages to customers but operated secretly so that they would not get caught by the law. While others found the law to be the perfect solution to alcohol abuse and other alcohol related problems. These are the perspectives of the government, bootleggers, and citizens regarding the cause, effect, and reasons of the Prohibition.
The 18th Amendment was ratified on January 19, 1919 by congress. It was officially put into effect in the 1920’s (Behr). It was also the first and only amendment to the United States Constitution that was repealed by the Twenty First Amendment. The 18th Amendment stated that “After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of...

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