Prohibition in the United States was designed to reduce drinking by eliminating businesses that manufactured, distributed, and sold alcoholic beverages. Many people were shocked by the drinking behavior of Americans, so the leaders of the prohibition movement arose to help cleanse America of alcohol. The prohibition movement gained strength when the Anti-Saloon League was created in 1893, and the movement soon become national. In 1919 the 18th Amendment seized business licenses from brewers, distillers, and venders of alcohol. The National Prohibition Act, also called the Volstead Act, was passed to enforce the 18th Amendment. In the early 1920s, consumption of alcoholic beverages had decreased about thirty percent of the pre-prohibition level. However, in later years, consumption increased as illegal supplies of alcohol expanded. In 1933, the 18th Amendment was repealed, as the only constitutional amendment to be completely eradicated, and it was replaced by the 21st Amendment.
Saloons proliferated in America during this time. In fact, it was common to find one saloon for every 150 or 200 Americans. The brewing industry, led by powerful brewer Adolphus Busch, was the most prosperous of alcoholic beverage industries at the this time, so many saloons developed to expand the sale of beer. In order to earn enough money, saloons often used gambling and prostitution. These practices, along with the widespread drinking culture, led to the creation of the Anti-Saloon League in 1893 in Ohio, founded by Reverend Howard Hyde Russell, which was an important center of the prohibition movement. Great leaders of the prohibition movement arose, many of whom believed that the removal of business licenses would allow churches and reform organizations to convince Americans to stop drinking.
Richard P. Hobson promotes prohibition in the House of Representatives in 1914
“What is the object of this resolution? It is to destroy the agency that debauches the youth of the land and thereby perpetuates its hold upon the Nation. How does the resolution propose to destroy this agent? In the simplest manner.... It does not coerce any drinker. It simply says that barter and sale, matters that have been a public function from the semicivilized days of society, shall not continue the debauching of the youth.”
However, the prohibition movement had many protestors. Percy Andreae, a anti-prohibition spokesman, organized successful resistance to the Ohio Anti-Saloon League after its victories in the 1908 state elections. He eventually tried to take the Ohio Resistance to a national level with the formation of a brewery-financed organization called The National Association of Commerce and Labor.
Percy Andreae speaks against prohibition:
- “I consider the danger which threatens civilized society from the growing power of a sect whose views on prohibition are merely an exemplification of their general low estimate of man's ability to rise to higher things -by his own volition to be of infinitely greater consequence than the danger that, in putting their narrow theories to the test, a few billions of invested property will be destroyed, a number of great wealth-producing industries wiped out, the rate of individual taxation largely increased, and a million or so of struggling wage earners doomed to face starvation.”
Long Term Effects
The Prohibition Movement successfully reduced drinking among much of American in the late 19th and early 20th century, until it was abolished in 1933 with the repeal of the 18th amendment. Prohibition impacted America as it increased crime rates, with the rise of bootleggers and speakeasies, along with gang violence; the Purple Gang went to trial in 1928 for bootlegging and highjacking. However, the prohibition movement did cause many Americans to improve their drinking habits, and it allowed churches and reform organizations to gain power as they tried to enforce prohibition.
Connections
Temperance: The Temperance Movement and its leaders shared common goals with the Prohibition Movement, and both parties were successful in reducing drinking among much of the American population.
Silent Majority: Many women, who were often the silent majority, supported the Prohibition Movement and made strong efforts to end drinking among men. One group of women that supported prohibition are depicted holding a sign that reads "Lips that touch liquor shall not touch ours."
Religious Rights: The prohibition and temperance eras hosted widespread religious sentiments throughout America. The Prohibition Movement gave churches and reform organizations a chance to help use their beliefs and power to reduce drinking among Americans. The religious revivals during the 20th century were legitimized by prohibition because churches played a large role in reducing the widespread consumption of alcohol. Fundamentalists were against prohibition for historical religious reasons, but, unfortunately, they critics often criticized them for being backwards and extreme. However, Christian fundamentalists held strong in their beliefs against drinking.
The Prohibition Movement successfully reduced drinking among much of American in the late 19th and early 20th century, until it was abolished in 1933 with the repeal of the 18th amendment. Prohibition impacted America as it increased crime rates, with the rise of bootleggers and speakeasies, along with gang violence; the Purple Gang went to trial in 1928 for bootlegging and highjacking. However, the prohibition movement did cause many Americans to improve their drinking habits, and it allowed churches and reform organizations to gain power as they tried to enforce prohibition.
Connections
Temperance: The Temperance Movement and its leaders shared common goals with the Prohibition Movement, and both parties were successful in reducing drinking among much of the American population.
Silent Majority: Many women, who were often the silent majority, supported the Prohibition Movement and made strong efforts to end drinking among men. One group of women that supported prohibition are depicted holding a sign that reads "Lips that touch liquor shall not touch ours."
Religious Rights: The prohibition and temperance eras hosted widespread religious sentiments throughout America. The Prohibition Movement gave churches and reform organizations a chance to help use their beliefs and power to reduce drinking among Americans. The religious revivals during the 20th century were legitimized by prohibition because churches played a large role in reducing the widespread consumption of alcohol. Fundamentalists were against prohibition for historical religious reasons, but, unfortunately, they critics often criticized them for being backwards and extreme. However, Christian fundamentalists held strong in their beliefs against drinking.
Interactive Timeline: http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/prohibition-nationwide/timeline/