The Prohibition Movement essays

The Prohibition Movement essays The article that I have chosen to review discusses and explains the entire prohibition movement of the 1920s. It explains that the temperance movements were began when there was an idea that the consumption of alcohol was hazardous to peoples virtue. The early efforts of people to ban alcohol were only partially effective. They were able to help 23 of the 48 states at the time to adopt antisaloon laws, which closed saloons and prohibited the manufacture of any alcoholic beverage in the state. These events all led up to the growth of the idea of a national prohibition law. By 1919, the dry members (prohibition supporters) outnumbered the wet members (against prohibition) by more than two to one. Due to this, on Dec. 22, 1917, Congress submitted the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. By January 1919 ratification was complete, and the 18th Amendment was in place. It officially banned the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors. By the time the law was in place it had a large following of support both popularly and in Congress. Congress passed the National Prohibition Act in order to enforce the 18th Amendment. It defined what an intoxicating liquor was, and also made concessions for certain personal uses of lighter liquors. However, Congress was never really willing to give much money towards enforcing the movement, and people blatantly disregarded the unstable law. Because of the inability for the law to uphold itself it remained more of an ideal than an actuality. Almost as soon as prohibition had set in, it was challenged by many groups of people. Some claimed that it led to a social disorder and decay which was exemplified by the raids, seizures, and searchings of the police. People claimed that this style of law enforcement was an encroachment upon the private lives of civilians. Some of the public also claimed that the law actually create ...