The Origins of Prohibition: Understanding the Roots of a National Movement
This essay is about the origins of Prohibition in the United States, examining the social, political, and economic factors that led to the nationwide ban on alcohol from 1920 to 1933. It discusses the influence of the temperance movement, driven by religious groups and social reformers who saw alcohol as a moral and social evil. The essay also highlights the impact of industrialization and urbanization, which contributed to concerns about social order and public health. Additionally, it addresses the role of political reforms during the Progressive Era and the effects of World War I, which bolstered support for Prohibition. The culmination of these factors resulted in the passage of the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act, initiating Prohibition.
How it works
Prohibition in the United States, a big-time ban on making, selling, and trucking booze, kicked off in 1920 and hung around until 1933. But the roots of this whole deal go way back, tangled up in a mix of how folks thought and what was going on socially, politically, and money-wise. To really get why Prohibition got started, you gotta look at what life was like in late 1800s and early 1900s America, where a mix of “don’t drink” campaigns, big changes in society, and how politics worked set the stage for one of America’s most talked-about times.
The “don’t drink” push, called the temperance movement, was a big force behind Prohibition. It started heating up in the early 1800s, backed by church groups and people who wanted to clean up society. Groups like the American Temperance Society, kicking off in 1826, and later the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), starting in 1874, were all about getting folks to stop drinking. They said booze was causing all sorts of problems—like fights at home, people being poor, and more crime. By saying “no” to drinks, they figured they could make society better and make everyone act more moral and get more stuff done.
As cities grew fast and got more crowded, things got even messier. Big changes were happening in cities in the late 1800s and early 1900s, with a lot of new problems popping up. City centers were seen as places where there was a lot of bad stuff going on, and bars were like symbols of everything going wrong. Bars weren’t just places to drink; they were also linked to gambling, selling sex, and shady politics. The “fix-it” crowd thought getting rid of these bars was the key to making things better and keeping people healthier.
Politics also played a huge part. The late 1800s and early 1900s were a time when a lot of people wanted to change things, making sure there was less cheating and more fairness. Prohibition was part of this big push to make things better, called the Progressive Era. Politicians, especially those into making progress, liked Prohibition because it was a way to fix problems in society and cut the power of rich people who sold lots of alcohol. The Anti-Saloon League, starting in 1893, was a big deal in politics, pushing hard for laws against drinking and using its power to change how people thought and voted.
When World War I happened, it made the push for Prohibition even stronger. The war made people feel extra proud and like they had to do their part for the country. The “don’t drink” folks said that grains used for making booze should go to feeding soldiers and helping with the war effort. Plus, with a lot of folks not liking Germans at the time, who ran a lot of breweries, it was easier to get people to say “yes” to Prohibition and “no” to beer.
So, in 1919, they passed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, saying no more making, selling, or moving booze around. They also had the Volstead Act to make sure this new law was followed. It all started on January 17, 1920, and that’s how Prohibition began.
Looking back, Prohibition came from a lot of different reasons—people saying “no” to drinking for moral reasons, changes in how society worked, new rules in politics, and the impact of a big war. Even though Prohibition didn’t work out and got canceled in 1933 with the 21st Amendment, seeing why it started helps us get what life was like and what made people tick in early 1900s America.
The Origins of Prohibition: Understanding the Roots of a National Movement. (2024, Jul 16). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/the-origins-of-prohibition-understanding-the-roots-of-a-national-movement/
