Reasons for Prohibition Flashcards
What was a reason for the idea of Prohibition
Changing society (Increase in immigrants) led to many worrying about the morals of society
Which immigrants specifically were blamed
Irish, German and Jewish immigrants
Which group of people was the most powerful at the time
WASPs
White Anglo-Saxon Protestants
What was the impact of this?
Opened up contradictions in the way the government ran the economy in comparison to the lives of its citizens
What was the aim of Prohibition
To stop the trading of alcohol
How did they go about this
18th Amendment - Banned selling, making and transport of intoxicating liquor
Volstead Act - Set intoxicating liquor as having 0.5% alcohol content
How did this affect states
Many of the states were already dry states, coincidentally ones overwhelmingly populated by WASPs such as Texas
How many states were considered dry states
13 were considered completely dry
What was the impact of these laws
Alcohol companies stopped trading with America and many stocked up on alcohol before the law came into effect
What groups were supportive of Prohibition
The Anti-Saloon League and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCUT)
WASPs were often in support of Prohibition
What groups were against Prohibition
Catholics, Ethnic Minorities and Democrats were often opposed to the laws
How did this impact society
Created more divisions within society
Why did Industrialists support Prohibition
Henry Ford and others saw that it lowered efficiency and increased violence amongst the workers
How did Prohibition affect the economy
It had no impact as they simply raised Income Tax rather to counteract the loss of money from Alcohol sales
