Prohibition in the United States was a ban on the sale, production, importation, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. This ban on alcoholic beverages lasted for thirteen years from 1920 to 1933. The reason why the Eighteenth Amendment, which banned alcohol, was created to reduce crime, solve social problems, reduce taxes, and improve the health and hygiene in America. The prohibition stood not as successful as they would have hoped because, people still drunk alcohol, even though it was banned, it caused additional organized crime, and it harmed people in several ways. During the prohibition, numerous people disrespected the law by still illegally drinking alcohol. Therefore, practically everyone during the prohibition era were criminals.
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They thought alcohol was responsible for everything but instead, prohibition itself became a major source of corruption. Prohibition created, organized crime and it continues today. Crime started highly increasing in the 1920s and it became organized. The reason why extra crimes were committed is because prohibition destroyed legal jobs and created the black market which lead to additional violence. Everyone from major politicians to the cop on the beat took bribes from bootleggers, moonshiners, crime bosses, and owners of speakeasies. In the 19th centuries and early 20th centuries, serious crime gradual decline all across America, but when the prohibition movement started crime increased. “The homicide rate increased to 10 per 100,000 population during the 1920s, a 78 percent increase over the pre-Prohibition period. According to a study of 30 major U.S. cities, the number of crimes increased 24 percent between 1920 and 1921 (Thornton).” Also, the study revealed that during this era more money was being spent on police, although increased law enforcement did not appear to reduce drinking. The arrests for drunkenness and disorderly conduct increased by 41 percent and the arrest for drunk drivers increased by 81 percent. Theft and burglaries increased by 9 percent, while assault and battery increased by 13 percent. “By 1932 the number of federal convicts had increased 561 percent, to …show more content…
It harmed people physically because the purity of alcohol was not regulated. It occurs to be safe to consume fruits, vegetables, and grains, however alcohol that was made out of wood is incredibly dangerous. No one could tell the difference between the alcohol until it was too late to do anything concerning it. “Over 10,000 people died during the prohibition from drinking wood alcohol. Others who were not killed went permanently blind or had severe organ damage (Florien).” Several people lost their jobs because the people working in the alcohol business only had two options: to find lower paying work or to maintain their profession which made them criminals. For these people, it was difficult for them to find a decent job because they used to work in the alcohol business which people referred to as “devil’s work”. Since it was troublesome finding another job the majority of them just stayed in the alcohol business to support their families even if it was breaking the law. Another harm prohibition had was it made cigarette a national habit. According to Florien, by 1930 cigarettes were legal everywhere and the consumption nearly tripled. Smoking cigarettes happen to befar more harmful and addictive than alcohol. Also, several alcohol drinkers switch to opium, marijuana, patent medicines, cocaine, and other dangerous substances. One of the few advantageous of the
They thought alcohol was responsible for everything but instead, prohibition itself became a major source of corruption. Prohibition created, organized crime and it continues today. Crime started highly increasing in the 1920s and it became organized. The reason why extra crimes were committed is because prohibition destroyed legal jobs and created the black market which lead to additional violence. Everyone from major politicians to the cop on the beat took bribes from bootleggers, moonshiners, crime bosses, and owners of speakeasies. In the 19th centuries and early 20th centuries, serious crime gradual decline all across America, but when the prohibition movement started crime increased. “The homicide rate increased to 10 per 100,000 population during the 1920s, a 78 percent increase over the pre-Prohibition period. According to a study of 30 major U.S. cities, the number of crimes increased 24 percent between 1920 and 1921 (Thornton).” Also, the study revealed that during this era more money was being spent on police, although increased law enforcement did not appear to reduce drinking. The arrests for drunkenness and disorderly conduct increased by 41 percent and the arrest for drunk drivers increased by 81 percent. Theft and burglaries increased by 9 percent, while assault and battery increased by 13 percent. “By 1932 the number of federal convicts had increased 561 percent, to …show more content…
It harmed people physically because the purity of alcohol was not regulated. It occurs to be safe to consume fruits, vegetables, and grains, however alcohol that was made out of wood is incredibly dangerous. No one could tell the difference between the alcohol until it was too late to do anything concerning it. “Over 10,000 people died during the prohibition from drinking wood alcohol. Others who were not killed went permanently blind or had severe organ damage (Florien).” Several people lost their jobs because the people working in the alcohol business only had two options: to find lower paying work or to maintain their profession which made them criminals. For these people, it was difficult for them to find a decent job because they used to work in the alcohol business which people referred to as “devil’s work”. Since it was troublesome finding another job the majority of them just stayed in the alcohol business to support their families even if it was breaking the law. Another harm prohibition had was it made cigarette a national habit. According to Florien, by 1930 cigarettes were legal everywhere and the consumption nearly tripled. Smoking cigarettes happen to befar more harmful and addictive than alcohol. Also, several alcohol drinkers switch to opium, marijuana, patent medicines, cocaine, and other dangerous substances. One of the few advantageous of the