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Brilliant YouTube Video on Prohibition
In the past year the pandemic had made me go crazy and I converted to non-alcoholic beer. I’m kidding I still love beer but I am trying to cut down and hopefully shed a few pounds on the way. Did you know that in America there was a period where alcoholic drinks were banned completely which might or might not have worked in making people drink less.
Background
In the 19th century, religious revivalism was sweeping across America, states were passing laws prohibiting the sale of spirits. This gave rise to many temperance movements which supported the ban of alcohol. Most of these movements were headed by women who have seen the adverse effects of alcohol on their family members and loved ones. By WW1, a temporary ban on alcohol was put into place to save grain for the armed forces. During that same year the 18th Amendment was submitted which banned the production, transportation and sale of alcoholic drinks. Due to the high support from all the temperance movements this was passed in less than 11 months. One of the biggest groups who supported the movement was the Anti Saloon League which is actually still active nowadays. January 17,1920 the 18th Amendment officially went into effect. It was named the Volstead Act after Andrew Volstead, representative of Minnesota.
The Prohibition Era
During the prohibition era, alcohol production and sale was forced underground, and the rise of bootleggers and moonshiners created a black market for the highly intoxicating product. It also gave rise to speakeasies which are secret bars with passwords and are the inspiration for modern speakeasies. Prohibition also gave rise to the famous Chicago gangster Al Capone who benefited financially through bootlegging operations and other illegal activities associated with prohibition. The Ku Klux Klan was also strengthened through their pro-prohibition views and was viewed as the defenders of the 18th Amendment By the Great Depression, support for prohibition waned as working-class populations could no longer afford the high prices for alcohol on the black market and the prospect of legalising the production of alcohol and collecting taxes seems liked a good idea to get the economy out of its slump.
In 1933, the 18th Amendment was officially repealed, and prohibition came to an end. This was done through FDR winning the elections and becoming president which he celebrated by drinking a dirty martini.
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