Why was Prohibition such a controversial issue during the 1920’s

Why was Prohibition such a controversial issue during the 1920’s?

Prohibition was the banning of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic

beverages. The power to ban the production, export, import,

transportation or sale of alcoholic beverages was given by the 18th

Amendment, 1917. This was gradually adopted by state governments

across America and was followed up in 1919 by the Volstead Act that

defined intoxicating liquor as a drink containing 0.5% of alcohol and

prescribed penalties for breaking the law. By 1920 Prohibition applied

to the whole of the USA. The passing of this law was quite astounding

for several reasons, partly because the legal liquor industry was the

7th biggest in the country, where even in the latter part of the 19th

century, ‘big business’ was established and respected as creator of

the nations vast wealth. Perhaps more importantly Prohibition appeared

to be a violation of the rights and freedom of the individual so

treasured by the US constitution and Bill of Rights. I will examine

why and how this law came into being, the problems it caused and

evaluate why it was such a controversial issue.

Prohibition perhaps best illustrates the contradictions in American

society and politics during this period. Supported by those who looked

to the government for ‘moral regulation’ leading the way to ensure

that people led clean, wholesome lives, it anticipated the role of

government expanding in private life to an unparalleled degree.

Prohibition originated in rural and small town America, a crusade

against intoxicating liquor inspired by the poverty, misery,

immorality and violence that it was perceived to produce. At ...

... middle of paper ...

...nitially there was relatively little opposition to Prohibition on

these grounds, throughout the 1920s the concept of individual freedom

came to be regarded by many as of greater importance than individual

morality and thus Prohibition came to be seen increasingly as an

infringement of this vital principle, especially in the cities. The

problems that were perceived to have arisen as a result of Prohibition

contributed to it being a controversial issue, it led to mass evasion

(especially in urban areas, and gave rise to smuggling and illegal

manufacture. It also stimulated organised crime and gangland warfare.

However, it should be noted that it was also well supported,

especially in rural America and, one could speculate, that without the

depression this controversial law might have existed for considerably

longer.