Would You Consider the Government's Passage of the 18th Amendment an Over-Reaction to the Problem of Alcohol?
The government's passage of the 18th Amendment was an over-reaction to the problems and it was a poorly-planned decision. The 18th Amendment only made situations worse in America as the number of crimes and governmental corruption only increased.
How do the Actions of Gangsters/Bootleggers Support the Position that the Government and Temperance Leaders Had Gone Too Far?
When the 18th Amendment was passed, the demand for alcohol had risen. The Gangsters and the Bootleggers had just applied the supply and demand rule because there was a high demand for alcohol. The demand for sobriety was completely outshadowed by the demand for alcohol.
18th Amendment
The 18th Amendment was ineffective in its intended purpose. This amendment prohibited the manufacture, production, sale, or transport of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. This amendment was supposed to lower crime and corruption, reduce social problems, lower taxes needed to support prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in America. However, the people of the United States did the opposite of its purposes. Legal and illegal home brewing became popular to combat the amendment and speakeasies sprang up across the nation. Organized crime had blossomed, courts and prisons became overloaded, and the corruption of justice systems occurred. Overall, this amendment did not fulfill its duties and was later repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment.
Volstead Act
The Volstead Act established a Prohibition Bureau within the Treasury Department. However, it was under budgeted and largely ineffective, especially in strongly anti-prohibition states. The government did not enforce the Volstead Act effectively because the Bureau did not enforce effectively. For example, the Ohio gang would abuse this law. However, when they were accused of violating the Volstead Act, they could buy pardon in order not to get convicted. The police and politicians would have good relations with speakeasies and bootleggers, highlighting corruption.
Gangsters and Crime
The youth that founded the period known as the Roaring Twenties wanted alcohol. The 18th Amendment had eliminated the sale of alcohol and the youth generation neither wanted the law nor respected it. Gangsters arose from this idea and would dominate the cities on their possession of alcohol. Organized crime was thus founded and rain the cities. Organized crime was widespread criminal activities, such as the selling of alcohol, in a centrally controlled formal structure.
The most famous gangsters of this time was Al Capone. He was an effective negotiator during this time and had earned 105 million dollars a year from alcohol sales and extra ventures. He bribed politicians and police officers which led to more gained territory. After many ventures, he was arrested for 11 years behind bars.
The number of gangsters and crimes during the 1920s are important and do deserve a big reputation because it reminds history that there were also negative aspects of the "perfect" time period of the Roaring Twenties.
The most famous gangsters of this time was Al Capone. He was an effective negotiator during this time and had earned 105 million dollars a year from alcohol sales and extra ventures. He bribed politicians and police officers which led to more gained territory. After many ventures, he was arrested for 11 years behind bars.
The number of gangsters and crimes during the 1920s are important and do deserve a big reputation because it reminds history that there were also negative aspects of the "perfect" time period of the Roaring Twenties.
Vocabulary
Speakeasy - a saloon/nightclub selling alcoholic beverages illegally, especially during this period
Bootlegger - alcoholic liquor unlawfully made, sold, or transported, without registration or payment of taxes
Bootlegger - alcoholic liquor unlawfully made, sold, or transported, without registration or payment of taxes
Through Their Eyes
The 1920s were a time of good feelings and the youth generation were rebellious. They liked the prospect of drinking while having fun with their friends while in a bar having a good time. The 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act eliminated this "fun" that they had with alcohol. Their rebellious nature may have taken over and looked for illegal ways to have fun again. The people realized that the government was wrong in passing this amendment just because of the Temperance Movements and they resulted to extreme measures.
APPARTS Primary Source
Author: Senator James Reed of Missouri and Yale Student Russell Lee Post
Place and Time: This testimony was held in 1926 in front of the Senate Committee. This was during the Roaring Twenties and the time of Prohibition.
Prior Knowledge: Prohibition was prevalent during this era and was widely known for being ineffective in its purpose; in this case, in colleges.
Audience: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary was the main audience of this testimony.Today, it is used for the general public as everyone knows the ineffectiveness of Prohibition. If the audience was different, the Yale student would be held accountable to the abuse of Prohibition.
Reason: This was a testimonial of Post, along with Reed, who both agree that Prohibition is not effective. It shows the general public and the Senate Committee that the 18th Amendment was not just.
The Main Idea: The main idea was that even if there was federal law banning the production and sale of alcohol, the people would not abide to it and would go out of their way to obtain alcohol.
Significance: This source is important because it shows federal government today that they cannot take the radical route and make unwise decisions to eliminate an ideal such as alcohol. There is always a way for the people to avoid the law and abide by their own.
Place and Time: This testimony was held in 1926 in front of the Senate Committee. This was during the Roaring Twenties and the time of Prohibition.
Prior Knowledge: Prohibition was prevalent during this era and was widely known for being ineffective in its purpose; in this case, in colleges.
Audience: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary was the main audience of this testimony.Today, it is used for the general public as everyone knows the ineffectiveness of Prohibition. If the audience was different, the Yale student would be held accountable to the abuse of Prohibition.
Reason: This was a testimonial of Post, along with Reed, who both agree that Prohibition is not effective. It shows the general public and the Senate Committee that the 18th Amendment was not just.
The Main Idea: The main idea was that even if there was federal law banning the production and sale of alcohol, the people would not abide to it and would go out of their way to obtain alcohol.
Significance: This source is important because it shows federal government today that they cannot take the radical route and make unwise decisions to eliminate an ideal such as alcohol. There is always a way for the people to avoid the law and abide by their own.