Cultural Contrasts of the 1920’s

U.S. History II

The Eighteenth Amendment

• Prohibition defined the entire 1920’s

• The Amendment banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating

liquors.

http://www.old-picture.com/united-states-history-1900s---1930s/Destroying-Bootleg-Beer.htm

http://www.old-picture.com/prohibition-index-001.htm

The Story of Prohibition

• Brewing became big business in the late nineteenth century

• Companies like Pabst and Anheuser Busch dominated the industry, establishing saloons all over the country

• Certain groups found them

detestable

http://prohibition.osu.edu/brewing/default.cfm

The Blight of the Saloon• 1 Saloon for every

150 to 200 Americans• Saloonkeepers

encouraged consumption by providing salty meals

• Also housed other vices: cock-fighting, prostitution, and gambling http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/Moments07RS/17_web_leg_moments.htm

Two Crusading Organizations

• Anti-Saloon League and Women’s Christian Temperance Union

• Prohibition was an artifact from an earlier age achieved through capitalizing on WWI atmosphere

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-americanhistory/ProhibitionPoster.jpg

Arguments for Prohibition

• A Habit-Forming Drug• Undermines Will Power• Little less of a man after

each drink• Degenerates the character• Reverses the life principle

of the universe

http://www.wpl.lib.oh.us/AntiSaloon/printed_material/fliers.html

One Way to Obtain Alcohol in the 1920’s

http://prohibition.osu.edu/content/medicinal_alcohol.cfm

A Whole New Language

• Bootleggers, Speakeasies, Rum runners, Bathtub Gin, and Moonshine, G-Men

http://www.old-picture.com/united-states-history-1900s---1930s/Moonshine-Still.htm

http://www.old-picture.com/prohibition-index-001.htm

http://www.old-picture.com/prohibition-index-001.htm

http://www.old-picture.com/prohibition-index-001.htm

A “Noble Experiment,” but…

• Alcohol consumption dropped significantly from Pre-Prohibition to Post-Prohibition period

21.63 gallons of beer (1916-1919)

13.58 gallons of beer (1934)• Byproducts are organized crime, health

issues of those drinking bootlegged liquor, corruption, and contempt for law

http://www.moviecarmania.com/prodimages/Al_Capone_1930_Cadillac.jpg

http://www.shout.net/~bigred/Capone.html

Rural America vs. Urban America

http://www.timefreezephotos.com/pictures/nyc2.jpg http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~fmay/yaw/ccyaw&catherine.jpg