Prohibition

Definition

Prohibition refers to the legal ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. It was a period in the United States history when the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors were restricted or banned entirely.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Prohibition was enacted in the United States with the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution in 1919, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors.
2. The Volstead Act, passed in 1919, provided the legal framework for enforcing the 18th Amendment and defining what constituted an 'intoxicating' beverage.
3. Prohibition led to the rise of organized crime and the growth of illegal speakeasies, where people could purchase and consume alcohol in secret.
4. The enforcement of Prohibition was widely criticized as ineffective, with many people continuing to consume alcohol illegally and law enforcement often turning a blind eye.
5. Prohibition was ultimately repealed with the ratification of the 21st Amendment in 1933, which returned the regulation of alcohol to the individual states.

Review Questions

• Explain how Prohibition is related to the concept of deviance and social control.
  • Prohibition can be viewed as a form of social control, where the government used legal means to regulate and restrict the consumption of alcohol, which was deemed a deviant behavior by the Temperance movement. The enactment of the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act criminalized the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, making the consumption of alcohol a deviant act. This led to the rise of illegal activities, such as the operation of speakeasies, and the growth of organized crime, as individuals sought to circumvent the legal restrictions on alcohol. Prohibition demonstrates how the state can use its power to define and enforce social norms, and how individuals may resist or adapt to these efforts at social control.
• Analyze the impact of Prohibition on the criminal justice system and the law.
  • Prohibition had a significant impact on the criminal justice system and the law. The enforcement of the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act placed a significant burden on law enforcement agencies, which struggled to effectively monitor and prosecute the widespread illegal production, distribution, and consumption of alcohol. This led to widespread corruption, as law enforcement officials were often bribed or turned a blind eye to illicit activities. Additionally, the legal system was overwhelmed with Prohibition-related cases, straining resources and leading to inconsistent application of the law. The failure of Prohibition to curb alcohol consumption and the growth of organized crime ultimately led to its repeal, highlighting the challenges of using the law to regulate social behaviors and the unintended consequences that can arise from such efforts.
• Evaluate the role of the Temperance movement in the enactment and enforcement of Prohibition.
  • The Temperance movement played a crucial role in the enactment and enforcement of Prohibition. The Temperance movement, which had been advocating for the reduction or elimination of alcohol consumption for decades, was instrumental in building public support and political momentum for the 18th Amendment. The Temperance movement's efforts to frame alcohol consumption as a moral and social ill, as well as its lobbying and activism, were key factors in the passage of the Prohibition amendment. However, the enforcement of Prohibition was largely left to the federal government, which struggled to effectively monitor and prosecute the widespread illegal activities that arose in response to the ban on alcohol. The Temperance movement's influence waned during the Prohibition era, as the unintended consequences of the policy, such as the growth of organized crime, undermined public support for the policy. Ultimately, the Temperance movement's role in Prohibition highlights the complex interplay between social movements, legal policy, and the realities of enforcement and public response.

Related terms

Temperance Movement: A social movement that sought to reduce or eliminate the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the 19th and early 20th centuries, ultimately leading to the passage of the Prohibition amendment.

Volstead Act: The federal law that provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment, which established Prohibition in the United States.

Speakeasies: Illicit establishments that sold alcoholic beverages during the Prohibition era, often operating in secret to avoid law enforcement.