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Essay / Wartime Consequences of Prohibition
In 1914, the United States of America entered the First World War. During this period, many American-made resources needed for war were strictly dedicated to troops rather than consumers. During America's involvement in World War I, Congress passed a "war ban" that prevented farmers from selling grain and corn for alcohol production because they were needed in war. In 1917, when the war was over and soldiers returned home, the "war ban" became a permanent ban. Congress created and added the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; it was ratified in 1919 and went into effect in 1920, marking the beginning of the Prohibition period in America. (Brief History of Prohibition, 1) Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The impact of Prohibition in the lives of Americans was beneficial to the country as a whole during this period and even after this period ended and the 18th Amendment was repealed. Unfortunately, prohibition was also very negative for the country during the years of his tenure and caused many problems throughout the country. When this first ratification was ratified, alcohol consumption levels in the country actually declined from pre-Prohibition levels; over the years, they rose again and the situation of the country and the behavior of the population towards the movement was not good. The economy has changed and suffered significantly. The final years of Prohibition were when organized crime really took hold, people started drinking more, and a new generation of Americans ignored the law. Prohibition was a thought long before the ratification of the 18th Amendment. The idea of prohibition originated in the 1800s; in 1893, the Anti-Saloon League was formed. The Anti-Saloon League was formed in Ohio and its primary goal was to shut down saloons, believing that closing places to consume and purchase alcohol would reduce people's consumption. The creators and members of the Anti-Saloon League believed that American society was in decline due to alcohol consumption; they thought people were losing touch with their religious values. (Anti-Saloon League of America, 1) Why did we endure Prohibition? Government leaders were very alarmed by Americans' drinking behavior and feared that the drinking culture was becoming too much for a developing world power. Prohibition leaders believed that once businesses were officially stripped of their liquor licenses and no longer allowed to sell alcohol, churches and reform groups would finally have the opportunity to convince Americans to 'stop drinking. (Why Prohibition?, 1) The Economy During Prohibition, At first, the effects were largely negative. Once Prohibition took effect, economists expected sales of clothing and household goods to skyrocket; Real estate owners expected rents to increase due to the closure of all salons and the improvement of neighborhoods. Soft drink and gum companies also expected massive growth after 1920; even theaters welcomed new crowds and people more attracted to their presence because Americans sought new ways to entertain themselves without alcohol. Nothingnone of this was the case.(Lerner, 1) Restaurants began to go bankrupt because they could no longer serve alcohol on site and were not making much profit due to the lack of alcohol. Breweries quickly closed their doors, simply because they no longer had anything to produce, sell and transport. This led to the loss and elimination of thousands of jobs, including coopers, truck drivers, waiters, etc., these jobs were no longer needed. One of the most important effects on the economy during this period was the government's tax revenues. Before Prohibition, many states relied on taxes on alcohol sales to fund their budgets. For example, in New York, nearly 75% of state revenue came from alcohol taxes; When Prohibition came into effect, all that was lost. Nationally, prohibition cost the federal government a total of $11 billion in lost tax revenue, while its enforcement cost the country more than $300 million. (Lerner, 1) During this period there was a growing lack of respect for the law. People who owned or worked in businesses that served alcohol had to either find new jobs or decide to be criminals in the eyes of the government and continue serving alcohol. The Americans didn't know how to handle such a drastic change in a very short period of time. They didn't want to lose their jobs or lose their families and homes. Most saloon owners who wanted to stay open and make money went underground, they're called speakeasies. A speakeasy is a term that was created during the Prohibition era and these were underground bars where people could go and consume alcohol. Usually, these speakeasies were located under a current standing lounge; The lounge would remain open as normal but no alcohol would be served. A person might approach a worker and say a certain word or code that would let them know they would like to be directed to the bar, usually to the basement, attic or upper/lower room of the bar. 'establishment. the prohibition era, 1) prohibition introduced in the jazz age; in these speakeasies there were jazz musicians playing a newly recognized sound and women dancing for entertainment. This was one of the first times in American history that “ordinary” women were easily welcomed into these establishments. This period also opened a new perspective for women; the “Jazz Age” relaxed morals. The “flapper” was created; the “flapper” was a woman with very short hair, which was not common at that time, with short skirts, a powdered face, bright red lips, bare arms and legs, who dared to smoke cigarettes and drink drinks. cocktails. Women who were “flappers” were generally considered “ordinary” women; rich women looked down on these “ordinary” women and called them rebels because they wanted to go out dressed the way they dressed and “behave” the way they did. This “flapper” look had a huge impact on American culture during this period. (Speakeasies of the Prohibition Era, 2) Once the Prohibition period took hold for Americans, many more speakeasies were established and organized crime reached an unprecedented level. . Organized crime, like gangs and crime syndicates, was not created during the Prohibition era; he rose to power through saloons, gambling houses and brothels. Murders and robberies also increased significantly during this time. (Sinclair, 221 years old) These gangs,.