Social And Cultural Development Flashcards
Overall positive changes
1910-1919
Better economy led new consumer society
Huge amounts of advertising in cinemas and radios
Records were sold very widely
Mass and it’s daring dances were very popular among young people
Women began to smoke and experience a more free life sporting heroes became rich and famous
New ‘fads’ became popular such as standing on top of a pole
Who was not happy between 1910-1919
Christian fundamentalists did not want to teach Charlie’s Darwin okideas in school
Older people complained about the lack of morals in young people
Others didn’t have money or ability to enjoy cultural and social changes
How world changed after war
After WW1- people had more free time and money for leisure activities due to new machinery and economic boom
Organised sport developed - golf and tennis
Madison square garden was rebuilt 1925 to hold sporting events for sports and increased popularity of radio
Sports became more profitable
Coca-cola was first company to sponsor 1928 Olympics
Sporting heroes past 1920s
Babe Ruth - sports star of 1920s, best baseball player of his time - “The Bambino”
Jack Dempsey - heavy weight boxing champion of world 1919-1926
Famous for hard hitting and vicious style
Cinema 1920s
Influenced people on fashion and behaviour
Ever small town would have a cinema and many would go several times a week as cheap
During WW1, going cinema was popular - to escape world troubles now
1920s - movies were silent. Hire pianos
Hollywood was perfect for outdoor filming - dry and sunny
Major Hollywood movie companies inc Warner Brothers
By marketing movies - succeeded in generating huge interest in movie stars
The cinemas - luxurious and pleasant places in which Americans could socialise and they could get to them easily in their cars
What was the influence movie stars had
They increased popularity of cinema
Charlie Chaplain - sex symbol - appeared in many early films earning $1 millions
When dead - some women commit suicide
He was one of the founders of United Artists film company 1919
Clara Bow- “The it Girl” - played a flapper influencing many young girls
Very influential 1928-1929
Cinema progression
Birth of talkies
1927- average 60 million Americans went to the cinema on weekly basis
Increases to 110 million 1929 - partially due to development of audio films 1927 w Al Jolson starring in The Jazz Singer
The 1920s were also age of cartoon such as Mickey Mouse (1928)
1929- Oscar’s to honour film stars
What restricted cinema and who disliked it
Hays Code drawn up by Hays 1930- scenes of nudity and sexual dancing prohibited and kissing - only 7m of film.
Adultry could not be counted as good and film should condemn killing
Many esp religious people, concerned about lack of morals and influence of films of young people
Music 1920s
Jazz originated from South US, from blues and ragtime music of black People
Jazz was more rhythmic and livelier and easy to dance too
Led to young people smoking, drinking and some say behaving indecently
College students, esp, were willing to challenge parents value and life style
Famous black magicians inc Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith, The Empress of the Blues
Racism - major problem during this period
When Bessie Smith has serious car crash 1937- taken to hospital for white people. Hospital refused to treat her and she died
1920s
Impact of radio and gramophone
Radio - most famous form of entertainment
Mass production, spread of electricity and buying on hire purchase - meant approx 40% of pop had radio by end of 1920s
Not everyone could read so radio was good at communicating news to people
Jazz led to inc radios and records and gramophones
People could listen to favourite team taking part in sport matches esp if could not afford to go to game or travel
Radio was able to grow and succeed because companies paid to advertise their products on the medium
1920s impact of WW1 on women
Before WW1 girls expected to behave modest, wear long dresses and had to be accompanied by older or married women when they went out
Unacceptable to smoke in public
Women had feminine jobs such as nursing
During war - different jobs eg factory - replacing men who had gone to fight war
Organisations like NAWSA had been fighting for decades to get vote for women. As women contributed so much to war effort- it was difficult to deny it.
1920- 19th Amendment
Change in work - 25% working during 20s
10.6 million working 1929
By now, independent women of middle classes and above had more money to spend - so advertising companies targeted these women to buy new products
1920s changing attitudes towards social etiquette
Flappers
Women started to smoke in public
Became acceptable for women to drive and take part in energetic sport
They were known as flappers
Hollywood periods characterised this and as a result behaviour and dress sense imitated by millions across world
1919- skirt 6 inch above ground
1927- knees level
Corset went out of fashion and makeup jewellery and bob hair cut came in
Famous flapper - Joan Crawford in films - famous for flapper style - many young girls admired. She married son of Douglas Fairbanks which proved her importance in society
Positive Influence of Jazz culture
Crucial in allowing flappers express selves
Can smoke and dance here
Also drank illegal alcohol in speakeasies
People liked more daring dances like Shimmy
Petting parties - flappers would kiss men in public
Flapper slang ‘I have to see a man about a dog’- buy whiskey
Negative influence of Jazz culture
Poor women could not afford fashion and didn’t have time for social events
Black women could not benefit from changing lifestyle either
Women in Bible Belt did not adopt new way of life
Many older women outraged and some formed Anti flirt club
Social impact of Great Depression
Urban industrial America experienced mass unemployment, coup kitchens and desperate job seekers crisscrossing the country by freight train
Rural American went through equivalent miseries in the years of the Dust bowl
The New Deal improves the problems people faced. State intervention creates jobs and welfare systems and did much to restore national self-belief
Country side vs city
KKK
Rebirth 1915- had 40 million members by 1920
From 1930 it modernised
New members appeared such as David Stephenson
2 young public relation experts, Edgar Young Clark and Elizabeth Tyler used aggressive marketing techniques to build up membership
The Klans own newspaper ‘The fiery Cross’ spread KKK ideology - and its attack on big business, German Americans, Communists, Jews, Catholics and African Americans nationwide
40,000 Klansmen by 1925- seen as politically respectable not a terrorist group
1925- Stephenson was convicted of rape and manslaughter and sentenced 25 years in jail. Ruined Klans image as defender of womanhood and moral purity
But this did not ruin the values it stood for
Explain Scopes Trial
Money Trial, Tennessee 1925- national sensation
Tennessee passed the Butler Act, outlawing the teaching of evolution or any theory that might challenge the Bibles version of Creation
Scopes, a science teacher, volunteered to challenge the law my teaching evolution in his classes
Bryan - chief witness for prosecution - religious fundamentalist
- Darrow= defence for scopes
Scopes found guilty and fined $100
press reported Bryan won trial but lost argument -
Darrow and ACLU successful in publishing evolution evidence
Bryan died after trial
Scopes was convicted - state authorities made sure he didn’t go to jail. The Butler Act stayed in force for another 40 years until 1967. Even then- few teachers were brave enough to teach it in school
Revolution, freedom of speech or money?
Modernism vs traditionalism
Sacco and Vanzetti
Italian anarchists who were sentenced to death for murder 1921 after an armed robbery in Massachusetts
Serious flaws in trial but numerous appeals against the death sentence were rejected
1925- controversy over Sacco and Vanzetti became national obsession with liberals and intellectuals denouncing conviction as being based on anti immigrant prejudice and social conservatives insisting the verdict be upheld
Men executed 1927
Shows prejudice against immigrants
How did social values change
1920
Prosperity
New prosperity was accompanied by new social values.
The swing back to ‘normalcy’ under Harding and Coolidge was reflected in consumerism and a more materialistic outlook.
Urbanisation and rapid expansion of the advertising industry accentuated these trends
How did social values change
1920
Conservatism
Backlash of social conservatism from rural and small town America
In religious with condemnation of modern ‘godlessness’ by the churches, by popular evangelists like Billy Sunday and by leaders of new political movements like Francis Townsend
The clash of values had a lot to do with mass support for KKK in 1920s
The new values were also opposed by idealistic voices from the left, agonising over loss of democratic idealism and concerns for social justice
How did social values change
1920s
Progressivism
Support for progressive ideal had seemed strong at end of war, with constitutional amendments to confirm female suffrage and prohibition
Both came with backlash
Why was prohibition introduce
The Volstead Act was passed because it had wide political support
It was progressive
Noble and social experiment
What was the result of prohibition
Producing, importing and distributing alcohol was taken over my criminal gangs
‘Bootleggers’ and ‘speakeasies’ and homemade ‘moonshine’
Enforcement proved too difficult
Law enforcement officers were on small budgets and few outmatches criminal networks aided by corrupt public officials
Many ignored law knowing people like Harding drank
Federal and local gov were losing money
Police corruption led to it getting out of control, with people like Al Capone being glamorised
A new bureau of investigation set up 1924- Al Capone sent to jail for tax evasion
Corrupt Mayor of NY, Jimmy Walker, was forced out of office 1932
How was prohibition repealed
1933- early measure of the New deal was beer-wine act which loosened restrictions on milder forms of alcohol
By end of 1933- 18th Amendment voted down my congress
Divisions south north and west
South
Segregation attitudes
Attempts to introduce an anti lynching law 1921- blocked by southern democrats in senate
Surge in migration to the north by African Americans
Growth of oil industry in Louisiana and Texas bought some economic modernisation but also a furious anti-business backlash
Divisions south north and west
North
The social mix of the north was altered highly by the migration of African Americans
By 1940- 8% of Chicago were black. The district of Harlem became a vibrant AA community
Northern cities were hit hard by the depression due to unemployment
There were also major strikes such as the ‘Ford Massacre’ in 1932 when police opened fire in a ‘Hunger March’ during strike
Divisions south north and west
West
Economic growth in west
Population of LA was 1 million 1930
West not fully integrated with national economy until WW2
Economic instability made life difficult for ethnic minorities like Chinese
Native Americans - marginalised-
They had been displaced due to the rush of the western settlement up to 1890, and never reintegrated into society
During interwar years - some efforts had been made to repair situation : in 1924, Congress declared all natives citizens
1934- FDR signed Indian New Deal (Indian Reorganisation Act) but this was only partial restitution on Native rights
The Indian new deal - FDR put a reformer in charge of Indian policy.
In 1933- Congress approved Colliers conservation scheme to provide 85,000 jobs for young native men
1934- Indian Reorganisation Act gave federal funds for tribes to purchase new lands and repealed many restrictive laws from past against native language and customs
Social impact of depression
Mass unemployment, soup kitchens and desperate job seekers crisscrossing the country by jumping freight train
Rural America went through equivalent miseries in years of dust bowl
Westward migration of ‘Okies’, the small farmers of Oklahoma and Nebraska, who were forced off their land by soil erosion and dust storms
African Americans progress during migration and world war 1
1914 sudden drying up of immigrant workforce and armament factories expanding to supply the war
Increased employment opportunities after WW1
Experience of black troops in trenches and in Europe, opened their eyes to other possibility
Harlem Hellfighters - first 2 black soldiers to receive French Gallantry medals
1917 Buchanan vs Warley- success over racial segregation in Louisville Kentucky
African American hinderances
Migration and world war 1
1915 KKK - birth of a nation
WW1- southern segregation firmly imbedded. Restrictions on voting rights firm
Northern - de facto - and much less spend on black education
Severe discrimination in workplace. Unions discriminated against black People
Sharecropping poorly off and affected by enviro issues
Segregation WW1 and lack of recognition for service provided
Chicago race riots 1919
Post war recession
Irish and polish workers attacked city’s black ghettos leaving 23 black dead
1000 families made homeless
Competition for jobs
Bilbo Mississippi Governor 1916-20- racist and crude language. Opposed civil rights
African American progress
1920
1923 Moore vs Dempsey - NAACP decoded a death sentence for 12 black people not upheld
Harlem Renaissance- many black performers publicly praised in fields of literature, music, visual arts and theatre - experience of singing as writing about their experience increased black consciousness and highlighted situation to world
A significant black middle class developed out of people who had benefited from better educational facilities
Garvey began UNIA in 1914. Wanted black people to take control of affairs - newspaper ‘The Negro World’ - publicised his ideas and got support
- black consciousness
- wanted black to use economic power
Oscar de Preist - elected to Congress 1928- stood firmly against segregation
NAACP - more radical than Washington - focuses on civil rights
1915 US vs Guinn outlawed Grandfather clauses in Oklahoma
1920- 90,000 members
AP Randolph- Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters 1925- black unions begun to form as early as 1869
American American hinderances
1920s
Harlem nightclubs - black inside only allowed to be performers, prostitutes, kitchen hands etc
Garvey met w KKK- seperationist 1923- ‘Garvey must go’
His ‘Back to Africa’ plan was vague and unspecific
Federal anti lynching bill made little progress
Southerners made every attempt to keep radical literature out of south
Oscar de Proest was a lone black voice in politics
Depression - NAACP declines to 50,000. In south it was violently opposed -
Harding did very little. Coolidge more positive but did little
Southern Democrats did nothing ish
African Americans progress 1930s
BSCP finally recognised in 1935 following Wagner Act
Gained support of AFL and NAACP, despite Randolph holding left wing views
Communist Party organised legal defence of Scottsboro Boys who had been accused of boys
National Negro Congress formed 1934. Tried to ensure blacks received fair share in new deal
Eleanor Roosevelt took positive start on race issues and supported NAACP anti-lynching
FDR new deal. 1935- 30% black families on relief - only 10% white —> shows fairness
Jesse Owens 1936 challenge her racial superiority and Hitler’s reaction show racist attitudes
1938 Gaines Vs Canada separate but equal must be equal - NAACP VICTORY
Mary Bethune leaders of NYA. Black cabinet largely considered to be exaggerated however
States woman
African American hinderances 1930s
NNC declined in 30s and became infiltrated by communists
Hitler signed pact with Stalin in 1939, further discrediting left wing groups that promote civil rights
For every $7 spent on white schools, $2 on black
‘Separate but equal’ - not equal
FDR told Walter White that to get his New Deal Programme through he had to rely on Southern Democrats and if he insisted on federal action, he would lose their support and jeopardise recovery
Black urban unemployment - high
South - sharecroppers not covered by Social Security or Wagner Act
Trudeau vs Branes 1933- all stage appeals had to be exhausted before coming to Supreme Court - slowed progress for NAACP
NRA codes allowed black to be paid less
AAA didn’t help black farmers as my has white
CCC run by southern racist
African American progress
WW2
Black federal employment in war rose from 50,000 in 1939 to 200,000 in 1944
Black migration north - 1940- 5 million moved to cities. 1 million found jobs in defence
1944- many black women entered workforce
Black in war recog
CORE set up to protect against de facto and challenge racism
NAACP membership 500,000
Powell - first memeber of House of Representatives in north east of US 45-67 ‘don’t buy where you can’t work’
Randolph threatened march on Washington 1941 to demand action against discrimination in federal employment
This forced FDR to issue an executive order banning racial discrimination in federal employment
MAJOR TURNINF POINT
African American hinderances
WW2
Tensions and riots
Detroit riot 1943
34 died , 25 black
Following suspected rape by black man
1600 arrested were black
Mobile, Alabama 1943. 12 black welders were promoted - causing walk out
Climate of built up of Cold War discredited any civil rights movement that was left oriented
WEB Dubois and Randolph denounced as left wing
Armed forces segregated till 1948
How world war 1 helped women
Over 1m women helped war - navy, clerks, radio.
Women also in traditional jobs done by men- heavy industry, engineering and transport
Proved women could do jobs and encouraged greater freedom
Wages encouraged new social habits - smoking and drinking
Helped pass 19th Amendment
Vacuum, washing machines encouraged employment and opportunities for recreation
1917- first woman elected to Congress Rankin
How did world war 1 not help women
Many women who joined work place were paid less than men
Clear expectation that at end of war, married women would return to accept the traditional role of a married wome
How did the vote not help women
Some women did not want it. Saw ERA as threat to security women to be protected where physical and biological differences might be compromised
Women in western states - vote prior to 1920- made lil difference
Significant ant amount of women uninterested in politics - Do not care
Lack of unity among female activists from different cultural groups, who tended to have different causes that they wanted to pursue
Campaign against child labour and anti-lynching campaigns are prime examples
Most extreme oppositions came from auxiliary branch of KKK.
By 1969, the ERA had achieved little
Jim Crow laws discriminated against black women
How did vote help women
Some educated women wanted to create equality and saw this as the natural step
Many campaigners for women’s rights focussed on specific issues such as equal pay. They did not see vote as means to end
Jane Addams campaigned for regulation of working hours and conditions
Mary Talbery campaigned against lynching
Positive female movement
1920
1924 first female governor of Wyoming m
Some working class married women entered workforce 30%
Created more jobs for unmarried women and opportunity for an easier home life
Women - nurses teaching
Union activity - 1929- led to 6 death
Shepherd Towner Act - creates maternity rights
Significant advances for women in clerical jobs
House hold easier w eg irons
Electricity - stay up later
Indoor plumbing - water inside
Flappers - young liberated feminists
Negative female movement 1920
Married women - stay at home
Opportunities in law and medicine still limited
Women faced wage discrimination. Production lines dominated by men who resented women
Equal rights amendment 1923 failed and led to conflict (men and women equal rights)
Women’s Bureau 1920 limited in achievement
Shepherd Towner funding terminated 1929
AA women suppressed by Jim Crow and segregation
In north AA women lower wages and discrimination in employment and housing
Marriage still goal for most young
Flappers minority
1920 only 15% white and 30% black married women with wage earning husbands held paying jobs / many believed no work if husband work - many needed jobs went textile mills
1930 women working
1/4
Positive female
Great Depression and new deal
Women membership of unions tripled after Wagner
End of 1930s women went drifting back to workplace
Female pressure groups who had campaigned for prohibition were important in campaigning for reversal 1933
Mary Bethune - first black women in government as Director of Negro Aggairs
Elanor Roosevelt - role model
Negative female
Great Depression and new deal
12% married women working 1930
Unions exclusively white - most exploited AA and Mexican American not represented
Massive male unemployment- the development for women receded
Gallup Poll 1936- 82% opposed women working
Poor familiarise often worked to develop income
26 states - laws to ban married women working
Generally little changed
CCC barred women from getting jobs
Married women could not be federally employed if husband employed
Positive. Women
WW2
War made demands can’t met by male workforce
Opportunities for immigrant and AA women
Lanham Act 1940- day cafe centre for children of working mothers were withdrawn between 42-46 (?)
1945 - 5m more working women than by 1940
Many unmarried women
Unlike WW1- 350,000 women joined armed forces
Attitudes changed
After 1945, showed 75% women wanted to remain in employment
Negative women
WW2
Media represented women’s contribution as short term extension of domestic role
Post war - thousand women laid off
Clear reinforcement of woman’s place being in home
Only small sample in opinion poll - agree w women working
Newspaper articles emphasise role of women as child relates 23m copies sold
Sign on instability was the divorce rate rising 10% 1940 to 18% in 1946
1910s NA
1911- Educated Native Americans formed the SAI
This campaigned for better education and health facilities and civil rights
However a lack of money and mass support limited their success
1920s SAI collapses
1920s NA
SAI collapses
Much land taken away to make way for oil fields
1928 report showed extent of poverty - shocked many and this prompted federal spending to increase financial support, medical care and other aid education
1924- citizenship - right to vote
Despite this wasn’t until 1948 that they were allowed to vote in every state and coolidges presidency highlighted native culture
Great Depression
FDR
Natives
Great Depression natives suffered acutely
When FDR became president- we didn’t own land- didn’t benefit from certain schemes
First and 2 new deal tried to create jobs
Collier worked to try and see natives benefitted from schemes such as PWA and CCC- wages often at lower rate for natives and schemes were discriminatory
FDR appointed Collier for Indian affairs and he persuaded congress to pass:
Indian Reorganisation Act 1934
This and Collier recognised native tradition and culture should be preserved and they should have control over their land
Indian land restored and division of I Dian land prohibited
-loans made available - encouraged to self govern
BUT often NA sell land to white to survive
This act gave women formal rights and provided them with opportunity to train for domestic work
Stimulated arts and crafts and encouraged entry into further education
75/245 Indian Tribes opposes acc
WW2
Native Americans
NA movement not awakened by AA civil rights as they had campaigned even before WW2
1942- 4 members of Iroquois tribe - jail - rather than be drafted into armed forces- same year tribe independently declared war on Japan and Germany, as they did not consider themselves to be under leadership of American government
War developments X benefit NA
Colliers org - cuts made to budget
Indians mad Japanese Americans relocated to reservations
Greater educational opportunities that had been provided by Collier before war - increased number of Natives - pushing for change
1940s many natives wanted mainstream life
Met discrimination like w AA
AA civil rights - opportunity for protest
Evidence FDR would help get fairer treatment
NCAI formed 1944- included all tribes
NAACP influences it
Launch campaigns in order to establish more rights - equal education
Deloria - Sioux Indian - wished law school - he made clear that case after case needed to be brought to attention of authorities to highlight need for change
Similarities with NA and AA civil rights movement
SAI similar to Freedmens Bureau - provides better health and education facilities
Despite being given citizenship - not hgwved discrimination and not able to vote everywhere straight away
FDT new deal benefitted both but were still discriminatory eg CCC
NCAI and NAACP both activists in helping their groups
War developments did little to benefit natives
Many migrated during war to north and faced discrimination
Differences between AA and NA civil rights
AA got vote earlier
People more intent on segregating AA and white people, whereas they tried to integrate Native Americans
Ways in which 1920-45 brought about social change for women
Political figures - first female mayor of Seattle 1926- Landes
Equal rights amendment 1923
War - Change in how women contribute to society
19th Amendment
Way in which 1920-45 stayed the same for woman
Norm women should stay at home and look after kids
1930s- only 12% working married women
Flappers minority
Most western states already gave vote
Explain the monkey trials
Scopes teaching evolution in classroom - against law - went against Bible - this was during an era of jazz and ‘disobedience’
Trial 1925
His lawyer Darrow - defence attorney - agnostic in religious matters
Jury found scopes guilty - fined $100
Bryan and anti evolutionists claimed victory and law stood another 42 years
But newspapers - Bryan won case but lost argument
Till 1960s it did not reappear in textbooks
KKK revival
1915 Jewish man lynched due to murder or young worker -KKK reformed - inc Jews, Catholics immigrants etc
Tulsa race riot 1921- group of whites attacked black community
1250 houses were burned
School, library hospital churches hotels destroyed or damaged by fire
Greenwood district - wealthiest black community in US burnt to ground
36 died inc 10 whites
Stood as one of deadliest riots in US- segregation in city increased and KKK grew in strength
Southern poverty law centre - KKK formed to make money
1920s membership increased
1921- 100,000
Annual subscription $10
New York Times ran expose and revealed sexual misconducts
Internal battle for leadership - rift Ls
1925- 4 million
Declines sex scandals
Sold in 1939
Revived 1944 but not as much support
1922 KKK member elected for senator
1924 4 KKK members senate
1930s klan revived under Nazi
Leader Kuhn tried merge 2 groups but did t work
Nazi Soviet pact denounced KKK seen as alliance with communism
How geography caused failure of prohibition
USA= 19,000 miles of coastline and land border - difficult to patrol illegal alcohol - could be smuggled in across borders and seas
Size of American cities with lack of prohibition agents mean speakeasies flourished without discovery and illegal activity could fairly easily take place across states and countries without knowledge of authorities in a clear violation of Volstead act
Geographical division - opp in north
How bootleggers led to failure of prohibition
Able to smuggle and sell alcohol in America due to desperate demand for it and took advantage of pharmacy laws to facilitate this
Earliest bootleggers smuggled alcohol across Mexico and Canada borders, they were able to smuggle in and distribute alcohol due to lack of prohibition agents and coast guards who were unable to control America in its entirety
Al Capone - organised crime - $60 million annually selling alcohol
Prohibition failed as people able to drink sell manufacture and transport alcohol
How did the government lead to the failure of prohibition
Congress never got required amount of money to fund enforcement officers
Only $2 million granted for enforcement yet the ASL had estimated that $5 million would be necessary
Caused enforcement difficulties which undoubtedly led to failure of prohibition and increase in organised crime
Enforcing prohibition - underestimated by federal government and led Americans looking to other vices to satisfy their needs
High ranking politicians and officials were also known to be corrupt and many continued to drink alcohol making a mockery of official legislations
How democrats led to failure of prohibition
National prohibition spilt democrat party distinctly into west and dry which led to Republican dominance throughout 1920s as they could not create coherent opposition
The Dry Democrats lived in the rural areas of the South and West yet the Wets represented the immigrant communities and the urban north and east
How did industrial alcohol lead to failure of prohibition
18 amendment permitted alcohol sake pharmacists for medical purposes
This loop hole exploited, most notably by gangster who brought a chain of Midwest chemists so he could order medical alcohol and then hijack his own trucks, diverting alcohol for illegal purposes
Industrial alcohol easily turned into moonshine by Bootleggers which led to invention of he cocktailcas mixing alcohol was only way to determine whether it was for industrial use
Hardware stores sold ingredients such as copper stills which facilitated home brewing of alcohol
How treasury agents led to failure of prohibition
1920- only 1500
1930- 2800 ish
On average - $2500 a year- easily bribed
How did divisions among supporters lead to failure of prohibition
Anti Saloon league united over introduction of prohibition but divided on enforcement of law
Some members believed stricter enforcement guidelines should be introduced with ASL appointing officers its self whilst others wanted education programmes in place to discourage drinking from early age
Financial backers withdrew funding as a result and the League was unable to achieve substantial enforcement as they could not come to a suitable agreement
How did popularity of speakeasies lead to failure of prohibition
Grew in 1922 as we’re around 5000 speakeasies
1928 over 30,000
It was impossible to shit down these establishments and enforce law as they were well hidden and the routine of visiting these could not be broken
How did immigrant culture lead to failure of prohibition
Northern cultures - Jews, Catholics etc - consumed alcohol as part of religion or culture they originated in
Trend
1920 culture imbedded
Culture
How did the depression lead to the failure of prohibition
Economic burden
Congress passed beer act
Allowed production of beer - created many jobs and tax
Alcohol proved as stress relief in time of financial cost
Was prohibition really a failure
•People could still consume
alcohol consumption declined dramatically during Prohibition.
Cirrhosis death rates for men were 29.5 per 100,000 in 1911 and 10.7 in 1929.
Most in the Deep south and Mid west actively supported Prohibition. It’s failure was mostly in the large cities, dominated by ‘new’immigrants.
- Arrests for public drunkennness and disorderly conduct declined 50 percent between 1916 and 1922.
- Third, violent crime did not increase dramatically during Prohibition. Organized crime may have become more visible and lurid during Prohibition, but it existed before and after.This might be because of the growth of media. The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, did create a massive turning point.
following the repeal of Prohibition, alcohol consumption increased.
Prohibition did not end alcohol use. What is remarkable, however, is that a relatively narrow political movement, relying on a relatively weak set of statutes, succeeded in reducing, by one-third, the consumption of a drug that had wide historical and popular sanction.
How did hoover view prohibition
Great social and economic experiment, noble in motive and far reaching in purpose
Evidence of alcohol Republic
1792-1832 Americans raised alcoholic intake from little over 2 gallons were person per year to over7 gallons
Who were typically the drys
Female
Married lived in rural communities
Voted Republican
What was the most successful pressure groups and why - for prohibition
Women’s Christian temperance Union (WCTU) Made up of mostly middle class women who sought to make the connection between crime and alcohol consumption
They argued alcohol contributed to unemployment and physical attacks by men on women and children
In 1875, the WCTU started petitioning congress for federal prohibition
Where did the ASL get their support from
Members of the business and scientific communities who argued drink was a leading cause of industrial inefficiency particularly in large factories
What was the wicker man commission
Hoover set up reports- social and political costs of prohibition outweighed benefits
Recommended 18th Amendment not be repealed
How did prohibition change drinking habits
Beer and wine became drink of choice compared with hard liquor like whisky
