Prohibition and crime
Essential question
Would you consider the government's passage of the 18th Amendment an over-reaction to the problem of alcohol? How do the actions of gangsters/bootleggers support the position that the government and temperance leaders had gone too far? In this time period, the government did indeed over-react the the problems of alcohol. Though alcohol's negative aspects were widely agreed upon, it was still an item that was wanted by enormous amounts of people. By prohibiting it, the government was literally asking for more crime than there was when alcohol was legal. This crime caused by newly popular gangsters shows that it was not worth it to prohibit something that is so widely used, and that it was going to far to make it illegal.
Key questions
18th Amendment: The 18th Amendment, the amendment that prohibited the drinking of intoxicated liquors, did a decent job at keeping people from drinking. What it also did was that it came with criminal producers, suppliers, and transporters. These gangsters wreaked havoc across towns, and they were some of the most notorious criminals in the world. Also the 18th amendment spurred the creation of speakeasy's and other secret bars that served alcohol. This is also why the 1920's has such a reputation for crime. Because alcohol was illegal, it caused more people to want to do it, and the people that made it possible to get it were some of the most famous gangsters of all time.
Volstead Act: During the time of Prohibition, it was a challenge to enforce the laws of the Volstead Act. This was because with the growing rate of gangsters and the mobs that came with them, it was becoming harder and harder to enforce laws when going against such a large group of people. Because the gangsters were becoming more and more popular, they had more of an influence, and this only added to the difficulties of trying to catch them.
Volstead Act: During the time of Prohibition, it was a challenge to enforce the laws of the Volstead Act. This was because with the growing rate of gangsters and the mobs that came with them, it was becoming harder and harder to enforce laws when going against such a large group of people. Because the gangsters were becoming more and more popular, they had more of an influence, and this only added to the difficulties of trying to catch them.
Comparison: 1920's vs. progressive/ wwi
Change and Continuity: The change from these two eras is clear: in one, alcohol is legal. In the other, it is not. Though the difference is plain and simple, the events that came with it are not so much. In the WW1 era, the government did not have to worry about enforcing the Volstead Act, or chasing down notorious gangsters. These duties came when the 18th Amendment was passed, prohibiting alcohol. The effects of alcohol being illegal were major, and the era before did not have to deal with any of these consequences.
vocab
Speakeasy: An illicit liquor store or nightclub.
Bootlegger: Someone who makes or sells illegal liquor.
Bootlegger: Someone who makes or sells illegal liquor.
Primary Source (apparts)
Author: There was no specific author of the cartoon, although it was published in the Current Opinion. This newspaper talked about current opinions on issues across the United States.
Place and Time: It was published in April of 1922, although there was no specific state it was published in, it most likely was seen across the United States. The place and time doesn't really have an effect on the meaning.
Prior Knowledge: Bootleggers were people that illegally made alcohol during the prohibition and the constitution says nothing about banning alcohol.
Audience: The audience was most likely bootleggers and the people of the government. If the source was different the intended audience would most likely be different.
Reason: The reason of the source was to spread awareness of this issue and to do it fast.
The Main Message: The main message was to show that the constitution should have absolutely no affect on whether people can drink alcohol or not.
Significance: This was not very significant, but did spread awareness.
Place and Time: It was published in April of 1922, although there was no specific state it was published in, it most likely was seen across the United States. The place and time doesn't really have an effect on the meaning.
Prior Knowledge: Bootleggers were people that illegally made alcohol during the prohibition and the constitution says nothing about banning alcohol.
Audience: The audience was most likely bootleggers and the people of the government. If the source was different the intended audience would most likely be different.
Reason: The reason of the source was to spread awareness of this issue and to do it fast.
The Main Message: The main message was to show that the constitution should have absolutely no affect on whether people can drink alcohol or not.
Significance: This was not very significant, but did spread awareness.
Thinking like a Historian & Change and COntinuity
Through Their Eyes: During the 1920's there was mainly two different views of the prohibition and crime. The majority of people believed that there should be some restrictions on alcohol, but the prohibition and overall banning of alcohol wasn't right. They didn't think that the United States government had the power to take away something that had become a national item. While there were also people that believed banning alcohol would solve all of the United States crime problems. Thes beliefs on both sides caused all types of reactions like the repeal of and protest of the prohibition, and protest for the prohibition. In order to do this a person shouldn't be afraid of the outcome and be ready to fight for what they want.
Connection to Today: The prohibition of the 1920's is a lot different than how alcohol is dealt with today with a few similarities. Today alcohol is not illegal to be consumed, although there is quite a few restrictions that will prevent crime. Restrictions like age you must be to consume alcohol, when you can and can not buy it, where you can drink it, and how much you can drink.
Connection to Today: The prohibition of the 1920's is a lot different than how alcohol is dealt with today with a few similarities. Today alcohol is not illegal to be consumed, although there is quite a few restrictions that will prevent crime. Restrictions like age you must be to consume alcohol, when you can and can not buy it, where you can drink it, and how much you can drink.
The big idea
How and Why do things change (relating to prohibition and crime)?
Things changed for all sorts of reasons sense the 1920's. They mainly changed relating to the amount of restrictions on crime and use of alcohol. They changed mainly for safety reasons. Crime and alcohol needed to be restricted to fit the time period and to ensure safety in the community.
Things changed for all sorts of reasons sense the 1920's. They mainly changed relating to the amount of restrictions on crime and use of alcohol. They changed mainly for safety reasons. Crime and alcohol needed to be restricted to fit the time period and to ensure safety in the community.