Prohibition (T1) Flashcards
When was the Eighteenth Amendment introduced?
1918
What was the Eighteenth Amendment?
Banned the sale, transportation and manufacture of intoxicating liquor in the USA.
What did the separate Volstead Act define intoxicating liquor as?
Any drink containing more than 0.5% alcohol.
Who was the first Prohibition commissioner?
John F. Kramer.
What was a reason for Prohibition? (Women groups)
Many women’s groups saw alcohol as a means by which men oppressed them.
What was another reason for Prohibition (Businesses)?
Big businesses saw drunkenness as leading to danger and inefficiency in the workplace.
Which two businesses were big supporters of Prohibition?
The Rockefeller Corporation and Heinz.
What was a final reason for Prohibition (Religious groups)?
Many religious groups believed alcohol was the work of the devil and was overwhelmingly responsible for sin and undoing.
Who tended to be supporters of Prohibition?
Overwhelmingly Protestant, live in small towns in the South and West, and vote Republican.
Who tended to be opponents of Prohibition?
Likely to be urban, of non-northern European ethnic origin, Roman Catholic and vote Democrat.
By 1917 how many states had passed Prohibition laws?
27, and there were ‘dry’ counties where alcohol was not allowed in several other states.
What two factors led to the increased popularity of Prohibition?
- Impact of the war
- Disorganisation of the opposition
How did WW1 change attitude towards alcohol?
- Grain was used in the production of alcoholic drinks was needed for food instead.
- Many people felt patriotic to do without alcohol.
Who were the largest brewers at the time?
Ruppert, Pabst and Leiber were all of German origin.
How did the war impact peoples feelings towards these companies?
Anti-German feeling led many not to buy alcohol from these companies.
What did people believe alcohol was doing?
Led young soldiers, who were away from home for the first time, into temptation and sinful ways - so best to remove it from their grasp.
How was there disorganisation of the opposition?
There was a march and rally in New York City, a parade in Baltimore and a resolution against taking away the working man’s beer by the American Federation of Labour.
Was there any significant protest against Prohibition?
No, other than this there was little protest.
How much did the Anti-Saloon League estimate for an appropriate budget for Prohibition?
$5 million to enforce it successfully.
How much was Commissioner Kramer given to enforce Prohibition?
$2 million
How many miles of coastline and land border does the USA have?
18,700 miles
What was ‘rum row’?
The waters just outside the national limits.