Prohibition in the 1920s
The 1920s could be described as the "coming of age" of modern America. Through technology, arts, sport and science American culture was shaped in a 10-year period. Faster music, looser morals, and skimpy dress all contributed to the end of our nation's adolescence. However there was one factor that would later define the 1920s: prohibition. Seemingly, with a "coming of age" also came intelligence. As one faction of society pushed for looser morale, another group was right behind them leading the charge against social evils. The main objective of these groups was to do away with social evil by putting an end to its source: alcohol. Prohibition contributed to the prosperity of the 1920s by leading America on a dry path to overall well being, reducing alcohol production, plummeting alcohol consumption, and promoting health. Prohibition was first put into affect by an Amendment to the Constitution in 1919. However, America had been on a crusade towards perfectionism in human beings since the time of the abolition of slavery. Starting on a local level, dry movements arose and pressed legislators for restrictions on the sale of alcohol. As their success became evermore numerous and more organized, various states
Federal Council of Churches. "United States Senate Testimony." http://www.cohums.ohio-state.edu/history/projects/prohibition/fedcncl.htm (2/4/00). adopted prohibition law from 1906-13. This then led to an organized campaign for national prohibition law. Powerful groups like the Anti-Saloon League (which began their national campaign in 1913) convinced Americans that alcohol consumption and liquor trafficking were gigantic evils (Ohio State University Department of History, ASL 1). The Anti-Saloon league was very effective in the distribution of propaganda that would persuade America to support the dry cause. With such a strong support base the Volstead Act (the national prohibition act) was proposed as a resolution in 1917 and was granted the necessary 2/3 majority vote in congress the speediest adoption of a constitutional amendment ever. Then each state individually ratified the amendment on Jan. 29, 1919, and it went into effect on Jan. 29, 1920 (Britannica 1). Ohio State University Department of History. "Production of Malt Beverages in the US." During prohibition the overall health and morale of the American people improved dramatically. The most accurate and easiest way to measure the health of the general public in a given time span is to look at the life insurance rates of the period. In 1921 the average life insurance rate was 34,000. By 1934 and the end of prohibition the rate was 70,000 far surpassing inflation and other factors (USDCBC 1056). Such a dramatic increase is evidence of the drop in American health after prohibition. The improvement in health is also noted in overall life expectancy. In 1920 the average life expectancy was 54.1 years (Kurian 42). During prohibition in 1921 it rose to 60.8. This amounted to a 5.7-year increase in the life of a person during prohibition. By comparison in 1936 the average life expectancy was 58.5 (Kurian 43). Taking into account new technology it is remarkable that life expectancy in 1936 was less than it was 15 years earlier during prohibition. In the short period under prohibition Americans saw the health benefits of an alcohol free society.
Some common words found in the essay are:
OSUDH Consumption, Bureau Census, Volstead Act, , Council Churches, Uncle Sam, Amendment Constitution, Liquor Trust, Anti-Saloon League, OSUDH ASL, life expectancy, alcohol consumption, ohio university, alcohol production, department history, ohio university department, university department history, university department, decrease alcohol production, national prohibition, anti-saloon league, amendment constitution, prohibition law, federal council churches, average life expectancy,
Approximate Word count = 1630
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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