PROHIBITION IN AMERICA

PROHIBITION IN AMERICA

SUMMARY

1. Introduction

4. 18th Amendment

7. Corruption and Mafia

2. Alcohol in America

5.Volstead Act

8. End of prohibition

6. Women

3. Origins

INTRODUCTION

Prohibiton = act or practice of something forbidden

Prohibiton in America =

* 1920 - 1933

* ban of fabrication, sale and transportation of certains alcohols

* 18th Amendment

ALCOHOL IN AMERICA

* Alcohol = "a good creature of God"

* Alcohol at all meals

* Used as anesthesia and to prevent infections

* Gave courage to soldiers during First World War

ORIGINS

Temperance movement :

* promote moderation and abstinence in the use of alcohol

* started in 1830's

* supported by women, religion and industries

Women's Christian Temperance Union

American Temperance Society

Anti-Saloon League

18TH AMENDMENT

* January 16, 1919

* prohibits fabrication, sale and transportation of hard liquors ( more than 40% of alcohol)

* triggers bootlegging (illegal production and sale of liquor) and speakeasies (illegal and secrete places where people drank)

VOLSTEAD ACT

* Volstead Act, formally National Prohibition Act, US law enacted in 1919. The Volstead Act, provided enforcement for the 18th amendment

* ban of all alcohol that had more than 0.5% of alcohol (= all beverages)

* Andrew Volstead chairman of the house Judiciary Comittee.

* a dry state = state with profited alccohol

WOMEN

* Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)

* make home life safer for women and children

* non-violent protests

* struggled for women rights too

* violent reactions from men

CORRUPTION AND MAFIA

* raise of organized crime (mafia) and gangsterism

* corruption of policemen and politics

Al Capone

END OF PROHIBITION

* failure because people switched alcohol to drugs

* March 1933 : Cullen-Harrison Act

* December 1933 : 21th Amendment (repeals 18th Amendment)

BY AMELIE ET NADIA