1 / 19

Prohibition: A Brief History of the Temperance Movement and the 18th Amendment

Explore the origins and evolution of Prohibition, from the 17th-century ban in Massachusetts to the national movement fueled by religious groups, activists, and political forces up to the enactment of the 18th Amendment. Discover key players, challenges, and the impact of Prohibition on American society.

marla
Download Presentation

Prohibition: A Brief History of the Temperance Movement and the 18th Amendment

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The History of Prohibition

  2. Brief History

  3. Origin? • May 1657 • General Court of Massachusetts made the sale of strong alcohol illegal • A gift? • Common belief that alcohol was a gift from God, but its abuse was a curse from the Devil • Dr. Benjamin Rush • In 1784, argued that excessive use was injurious to physical and psychological health

  4. And it continues… • 1789, temperance association formed by 200 farmers in CT • Based on the statements of Dr. Rush • 1800 Virginia • 1808 New York • Within the next decade, 15 more organizations formed to ban alcohol

  5. The “DRY” Movement • 1840s • Religious men (esp. Methodists) • Began as abstaining from drinking alcohol but spread to focus on any institutions related to alcohol consumption • Preachers likened liquor-dispensing saloons with to prostitution

  6. (continued…) • 1850s • Maine totally banned the manufacture and sale of liquor (adopted in 1851) • Movement lost momentum… • Temperance of alcohol was not a major political issue during the American Civil War

  7. It’s Alive!!! • However, it revived in the 1880s with the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and Prohibition Party • WCTU • Founded in 1873, did not promote moderation or temperance but prohibition • “get to children”

  8. It’s Official • 1881-Kansas • Carrie Nation • Singing, praying, pestering

  9. Politics & Hate (Post-WWI) • German culture valued alcohol • Post WWI attitudes in the US were not pro-German • Anti-Saloon League intensely lobbied and pushed for what later became our 18th Constitutional Amendment (1920)

  10. Key Players

  11. The “Dries” • Protestant denominations • Methodists • Northern Baptists • Southern Baptists • Presbyterians • Disciples • Congregationalists • Quakers • Scandanavian Lutherans

  12. The “Wets” • Episcopalians • German Lutherans • Roman Catholics

  13. Other Interested Parties • African-American Labor Activists • Soda Fountain Manufacturers

  14. Volstead Act

  15. 18th Amendment • January 16, 1919 (ratification) • January 16, 1920 (prohibition began) • Enforcing it was difficult • Before women earned the right to vote

  16. Supporters • KKK • Women • Southerners • Rural dwellers • African-Americans

  17. EXCEPTION • Woman’s Organization for Prohibition Reform • However, Senator Morris Sheppard joked, • “There is as much chance of repealing the Eighteenth Amendment as there is for a humming-bird to fly to the planet Mars with the Washington Monument tied to its tail”

  18. Our Neighbors • Alcohol was not illegal in our bordering countries • Distilleries and breweries in Canda, Mexico and the Caribbean flourished • Visitors • Exported to Chicago • Al Capone • Bugs Moran

  19. To be continued…

More Related