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The Negative Role Of Prohibition In The 1920's

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The Negative Role Of Prohibition In The 1920's
Sienna Telles
Christopher Corrales
Chamberlin
12 February 2016
Prohibition in the 1920’s
In the 1920’s the 18th Amendment prohibited the making or selling of alcohol in America. In 1917, prior to the 18th amendment, President Woodrow Wilson initiated a temporary wartime prohibition with the goal of saving grain for food production after the United States became involved in World War One. It had been illegal to sell “intoxicating beverages” that contained more than 0.5% of alcohol. In areas that were highly populated, prohibition had been enforced more strongly unlike rural areas and small towns where it had been more lenient. Prohibition was a movement started by women’s groups who wanted to get rid of the consumption of alcohol. By 1830, the American population consumed 7.1 gallons of alcohol per capita on a regular basis. Many people did not agree with the banning of alcohol from the beginning. Because of the disagreement, many people would protest against it because they wanted alcohol to
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Prohibition forced the majority of the population to break the law because they snuck around and still tried drinking alcohol. Bootlegging, illegally making/manufacturing and selling of liquor, became popular during this time. This overwhelmed the police, courts and penal system. The majority of the population were considered criminals because they were breaking the law by sneaking around and drinking when they should not have. Due to this change, many people lost their jobs. Anyone who had worked in the alcohol business were given two options: find a lower-paying job or become a criminal. During this time, home brewing became popular since it was hard to find anyone who could sell alcohol. This made cigarette smoking popular nationwide. Cigarettes had been illegal in several states, but since they were off limits, it made it all more tempting and irresistible for people to use

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