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Prohibition: a Sociological and Economical View By: Brock Wilson & Jesse Olmstead
Prohibition: a Sociological and Economical View
By: Brock Wilson & Jesse Olmstead
A Little History On Prohibition
Prohibition was largely a struggle between ethnic groups.
In Illinois, for example, “fifty three per of state’s residents were either foreign born or the children of foreign born parents…” (Buenker 363).
Foreigners and natives - relative to 1920 natives - did not agree on alcohols “evilness.”
“for the immigrant had built a whole segment of his culture around them, whereas the native came to regard them as a major source of evil” (Buenken).
(Túrelio).
If allowed for 200 years, why change?People in america had been drinking since before they were independent of great britain. One of the prohibitionists main fighting points was the fact that the alcohol wasn’t the same anymore, it was being made stronger. The Average male over 15 in the years following 1820 was drinking 9 gallons of liquor a year and causing more problems at home. (Blumenthal)
Women also saw an opportunity to have a role of importance in these affairs. In 1874, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, or WCTU was founded to get rid of alcohol, but more importantly for women at the time, give them some political voice.
(A Noble Experiment)
Alcohol Embedded in America
“Since the foundation of the country, Alcohol was as american as apple pie to its people. The mayflower that brought the puritans to massachusetts was filled with beer. During the revolution, George washington made sure every man had half a cup of rum everyday. During Andrew Jackson's inauguration the white house was filled with drunk celebrations.” (Hamill)
(Mayflower)
(Drink Boston)
(Bliss).
Further Reasoning Supporters of prohibition reasoning behind their support included “increased prosperity following prohibition, and claimed consequent improvement in personal dependability” (Jones 78).
Two sides to the alcohol controversy
From the very beginning of prohibitions’ installment in 1920, there was a great divide among the people of america.
The supporters of prohibition included senators like Morris Shepherd who was nicknamed “The forefather of prohibition.”(Blumenthal )
On the other end were the men responsible for keeping the flow of illegal alcohol steady such as Al Capone
(Local Option Chicago)
The Drunkards ProgressStep 1:A Glass With A Friend
Step 2: A Glass To Keep The Cold Out
Step 3: A Glass Too Much
Step 4: Drunk And Riotous
Step 5: The Summit Attained. Jolly Companions. A Confirmed Drunkard
Step 6: Poverty And Disease
Step 7: Forsaken By Friends
Step 8: Desperation And Crime
Step 9: Death By Suicide
Taken From (Blumenthal).
In all actuality, alcohol sales were - and still are - a major industry.
“$40 million” a year was made by business men off the sales of alcohol before prohibition was enacted (Carter 364).
The Business ProspectiveTotal Expenditure on Distilled Spirts as a Percentage of Total Alcohol Sales (1890-1960)
(“Alcohol Sales (1890-1960).” 1932. Gif. )
The Sociological effects of prohibition
Speakeasy party
Although alcohol was illegal at the time, this image from the great gatsby illustrates how much the general public respected this new law
(Cafe Drake) (Great Gatsby)
The Business Perspective (cont.)
“The salaried, professional, and business, class formerly [before the 18th amendment] responsible for about half the total liquor bill, now contributes about three fourths of it” (Warburton 93).
Even though the poor could not afford alcohol after prohibition started, the wealthy made up for the economical lost in this facit.
(“Alcohol Control During Prohibition.” 2012. JPEG.)
Where the money was going?
Louis Capone Emanuel Weiss (Louis Capone and Emanuel Weiss)
“Though the consumption of pure alcohol per capita has been reduced by 30 per cent, the higher prices paid for liquor purchased from bootleggers and at speakeasies keep the total expenditure as high as it would be without prohibition” (Warburton 93).
Prohibition Helped Criminals
(Wheeler)
Statistics From (Organized Crime and Prohibition).
Prohibition failed in a far larger way than getting rid of drunkards.
Most think about alcohol as a product used in beverages. However, it’s used in industry a lot more.
Industrial Waste
(Long Beach Ford)
“alcohol is one of the world’s most important industrial chemicals quite aside from its use in beverages” (Free 19).
Industrial Usage
(Institute Plant Tanks)
Links To The Great Depression
Prohibition devastated the nation's brewing
industry. St. Louis had 22 breweries before
Prohibition. Only nine reopened after Prohibition
ended in 1933. (“Prohibition”).
Did The Prohibitionists Succeed?Many prohibitionists believed that the ratification of the 18th amendment would create a more stable, religious america.The reality of the matter was that crime rates and general mischief skyrocketed.
Bootleggers using a still to make illegal alcohol in the above picture.
Forces running the city are illustrated below (20th Century Cartoon)
(Prohibition Bar)
Repeal“Although organized crime flourished under its sway, Prohibition was not responsible for its appearance, as organized crime’s post-Repeal persistence has demonstrated. Drinking habits underwent a drastic change during the Prohibition Era, and Prohibition’s flattening effect on per capita consumption continued long after Repeal... Repeal itself became possible in 1933 primarily because of a radically altered economic context—the Great Depression” (Jack and Blocker).
Alcohol Post-ProhibitionDespite the efforts of Prohibition, Alcohol use was still popular in use against the law after the amendment was repealed. The graphs to the right depict illegal alcohol consumption between 1951-1965 of 7th and 12th graders; The children of kids who grew up during prohibition.
Info taken from (Claypool).
Alcohol Usage TodayDespite the efforts of prohibition, it is arguable that it’s effects have lingered long after its repeal. Many children well under the age of twenty-one partake in drinking, and at a much stronger level. Todays drinking is more focused on binge-drinking rather than social drinking in the past. It is not uncommon for kids between the ages of 16 and 21 to drink a 6-pack of bud light in under an hour. It is unlikely the prohibitionists envisioned an america such as it is today nearly a century after prohibitions installment in 1920. It is reasonable to conclude that prohibition caused a social norm for americans to break any law against drinking alcohol and think that it is simply okay.
Alcohol is an Increasing Trend in General
Improvement is ShowingOne of the most prevalent cases of alcohol abuse is associated with vehicular injuries. Luckily they are showing signs of decreasing. Perhaps Americans are becoming more responsible slowly.
Take Aways1. It is dangerous to act on feelings.
2. It’s sometimes better to know your enemy than wonder who your enemy is.
3. Gradual change is the best kind of change.
Alcohol Is Bigger Than Ever
Works cited Jesse“Alcohol Control During Prohibition.” 2012. JPEG “Alcohol Sales (1890-1960).” 1932. Gif. Bliss, E.W. E. W. Bliss Company munitions factory in DUMBO, Brooklyn, New York. 1884. Brooklyn, New York. Wikicommons. Web. 21 April 2014Buenker, John D. “The Illinois Legislature and Prohibition, 1907-1919” Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (1908-1984). 62.4 (1969): 364-365. Print.Carter, Paul A. “Prohibition and Democracy: The Noble Experiment Reassessed.” The Wisconsin Magazine of History. 56.3 (1973): 193-194. Print.Free, E.E. “Where America Get’s Its Booze.” Popular Science Monthly. May 1930.
Jesse’s Continued Fochler, Rike. "Al Capone: The Untouchable Legend.” Online Video Clip. Youtube. Youtube. 6 Jul.
2009. Web 09 Apr. 2014.Institute Plant Tanks. 1935. Washington, DC. Wikicommons. Web. 21 April 2014Long Beach Ford. . 1930. Los Angeles, California. Wikicommons. Web. 21 April 2014.Louis Capone and Emanuel Weiss. 1941. Library of Congress, New York. Wikicommons. Web. 21
April 2014.Túrelio. St. Peter's In The Loop. 2002. Chicago. Wikicommons. Web. 21 April 2014 Warburton, Clark. “Prohibition and Economic Welfare.” Annals of the American Academy of Political
and Social Science. 163 (1973): 92-94. Print. Warburton, Clark. “Total Expenditure on Distilled Spirits as a Percentage of Total Alcohol Sales
(1890-1960).” 1932. Gif.Wheeler, Edward. Rum Running West End. 1921. New York, New York. Wikicommons. Web. 21
April 2014.
Works Cited BrockBlumenthal, Karen, and Jay Colvin. Bootleg: murder, moonshine, and the lawless years of prohibition. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2011. Print.
Miner, Jane Claypool. Alcohol and you. Rev. ed., 2nd ed. New York: F. Watts, 1988. Print.
Hamill, Pete. "Prohibition." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. . <http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/watch-video/#id=2082675582>.
"Organized Crime and Prohibition." Organized Crime and Prohibition. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2014. <http://www.albany.edu/~wm731882/organized_crime1_final.html>.
"Cafe Drake." : June 2010. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://diningwithdrake.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html>.
"The luxurious atmosphere of The Great Gatsby (2013) - Miss Owl." Miss Owl. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://missowl.com/the-luxurious-atmosphere-of-the-great-gatsby-2013/>.
"A cut-away plan and description of The Mayflower ship, its decks, superstructure and compartments.." A cut-away plan and description of The Mayflower ship, its decks, superstructure and compartments.. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.mayflowersteps.co.uk/mayflower/mayflower.html>.
"al-capone." Local Option Chicago. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. <http://localoptionbier.com/2013/01/17/a-tribute-to-scarface/al-capone/>.
"drinkboston.com." drinkbostoncom RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://drinkboston.com/tag/andrew-jackson/>.
"Prohibition: A "Noble Experiment" Gone Wrong." lizzyoungbookseller. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://lizzyoungbookseller.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/prohibition-a-noble-experiment-gone-wrong/>."Timely and TimelessTwentieth Century Cartoon Critics." Twentieth Century Cartoon Critics. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/timely-and-timeless/twentieth-century-cartoon-critics.html>.
"At the Prohibition Bar." Speakeasy Science. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://blogs.plos.org/speakeasyscience/2010/12/31/at-the-prohibition-bar/>.
"." . N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ias.org.uk/What-we-do/Publication-archive/The-Globe/Issue-4-2001-3-2001/South-Korea.aspx>.
