Prohibition

Definition

Prohibition refers to the nationwide ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States from 1920 to 1933. It was enacted through the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and enforced by the Volstead Act.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Prohibition was a response to the growing concerns about the social and economic consequences of alcohol consumption, particularly among the working class.
2. The 18th Amendment was ratified in 1919 and went into effect in 1920, marking the start of the Prohibition era.
3. Prohibition led to the rise of organized crime and the creation of a thriving black market for the production and distribution of illegal alcohol.
4. Speakeasies, hidden bars and nightclubs, became popular during Prohibition as a way for people to access alcoholic beverages.
5. The Prohibition era was marked by widespread non-compliance and a significant increase in the consumption of hard liquor, which was easier to produce and conceal than beer or wine.

Review Questions

• Explain how Prohibition was connected to the Temperance Movement and the Volstead Act.
  • The Temperance Movement, a social movement that advocated for the abstinence from alcohol, laid the groundwork for Prohibition. The 18th Amendment, which banned the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages, was a direct result of the Temperance Movement's efforts. The Volstead Act then provided the legal framework for enforcing Prohibition by defining intoxicating liquor and establishing penalties for violations. Together, the Temperance Movement, the 18th Amendment, and the Volstead Act formed the core of the Prohibition era in the United States.
• Describe the impact of Prohibition on the rise of organized crime and the creation of speakeasies.
  • Prohibition led to the emergence of a thriving black market for the production and distribution of illegal alcohol. This created opportunities for organized crime groups to profit from the demand for alcoholic beverages. Speakeasies, hidden bars and nightclubs, became popular during this time as a way for people to access alcoholic beverages despite the legal ban. The existence of these illegal establishments, along with the activities of organized crime syndicates, undermined the effectiveness of Prohibition and contributed to widespread non-compliance with the law.
• Analyze how Prohibition affected the social and economic landscape of the 1920s.
  • Prohibition had significant social and economic consequences during the 1920s. The ban on alcohol production and sale led to the rise of organized crime, as criminal organizations took advantage of the lucrative black market for illegal alcohol. This, in turn, contributed to an increase in violence, corruption, and disrespect for the law. Economically, Prohibition resulted in the loss of tax revenue for the government and the decline of industries related to the production and distribution of alcoholic beverages. Additionally, the widespread non-compliance with Prohibition and the popularity of speakeasies reflected a growing cultural shift towards more permissive attitudes towards alcohol consumption, particularly among the younger generation, which contributed to the broader social transformations of the 1920s.

Related terms

Temperance Movement:

A social movement that advocated for the abstinence from alcohol and the prohibition of its production, distribution, and consumption.

Volstead Act:

The federal law that provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment, defining intoxicating liquor and establishing penalties for violations.

Speakeasies:

Illegal establishments that sold alcoholic beverages during the Prohibition era, often in hidden or secretive locations.