Do-Now Use the spaces provided on the

blackboard to list the major details, arguments, viewpoints, etc. represented in your group’s section of the prohibition reading.

Talk with your group about how you’d like to explain the reading to the class.

Thursday December 4th

Agenda• Do-Now• Prohibition discussion• Notes on Prohibition• Explain and assign “Heroes” for cereal boxes

HomeworkBegin work on your “Heroes” cereal boxDue: Wednesday December 10th

Post-War Social ChangePost-War Social ChangeSociety in the 1920’sSociety in the 1920’s

Prohibition of AlcoholProhibition of Alcohol

Religious Tension RisesReligious Tension Rises

The 1920’s, The 1920’s, ProhibitionProhibition

A simple solution to a A simple solution to a complex problem.complex problem.1. Why did many Americans believe Prohibition was

necessary? What goals did they have?

2. What were the results (intended or unintended) of the Prohibition of alcohol?

3. Was Prohibition of Alcohol in the 1920’s successful?

4. In what way could you say that the goals of prohibition “backfired”?

5. Why did so many Americans look for cultural icons who represented good or “heros” during this time period?

““As an attempt to restore morality, As an attempt to restore morality, Prohibition probably produced the Prohibition probably produced the opposite effect. The willingness to opposite effect. The willingness to break the law contributed to a wider break the law contributed to a wider decline in moral standards.”decline in moral standards.”

Prohibition’s main goals:Prohibition’s main goals:– Eliminate drunkennessEliminate drunkenness

Lessen domestic abuse, conflictLessen domestic abuse, conflict

– Get rid of saloonsGet rid of saloonsSites of prostitution, gambling, and other vicesSites of prostitution, gambling, and other vices

– Prevent absenteeism & problems at workPrevent absenteeism & problems at workMissing work, and on-the-job accidentsMissing work, and on-the-job accidents

Prohibition of AlcoholProhibition of AlcoholThe 18The 18thth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Amendment to the U.S. ConstitutionBecame the law of the land January 16Became the law of the land January 16thth, 1920. Largely , 1920. Largely

Ignored by the majority of Americans.Ignored by the majority of Americans.

Enforcing Prohibition:Enforcing Prohibition:– Volstead Act (1919)Volstead Act (1919)

Passed by Congress to systematically enforcePassed by Congress to systematically enforce

– Widely IgnoredWidely IgnoredDemographics: Demographics:

– Kansas, 95% obeyedKansas, 95% obeyed– New York, 5% obeyedNew York, 5% obeyed

Enhanced the rural/urban morality contrastEnhanced the rural/urban morality contrast

Prohibition of AlcoholProhibition of AlcoholThe 18The 18thth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

BootleggingBootlegging– Manufacture, sale, or transport of beer, liquor, wine, etc. Manufacture, sale, or transport of beer, liquor, wine, etc.

is outlawedis outlawed– A new type of criminal is bornA new type of criminal is born– Operated stills, smuggled overland or seaOperated stills, smuggled overland or sea

SpeakeasiesSpeakeasies– Illicit saloons where smuggled booze was distributed Illicit saloons where smuggled booze was distributed

After Prohibition:After Prohibition: 700 speakeasies and 4,000 bootleggers in 700 speakeasies and 4,000 bootleggers in Washington D.C.Washington D.C.Before ProhibitionBefore Prohibition: Only 300 licensed saloons: Only 300 licensed saloons

Violating ProhibitionViolating ProhibitionThe 18The 18thth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Organized CrimeOrganized Crime– Bootlegging/Speakeasies required large networksBootlegging/Speakeasies required large networks

Gang wars & murderGang wars & murder– Gangsters expanded their bootlegging empiresGangsters expanded their bootlegging empires– Overlapping gangs clashed, murderous resultsOverlapping gangs clashed, murderous results– ““Rackets”Rackets”

Paid off local police to “look the other way”Paid off local police to “look the other way”Forced local business to pay for “protection”Forced local business to pay for “protection”

– Unpaid business suffered terrorismUnpaid business suffered terrorism

What happened to protecting morality!?!What happened to protecting morality!?!

Violating ProhibitionViolating ProhibitionThe 18The 18thth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Al CaponeAl Capone– ““Scarface,” most notorious gangsterScarface,” most notorious gangster– Over $60 million per year bootlegging aloneOver $60 million per year bootlegging alone– Incredibly powerfulIncredibly powerful

Politicians, judgesPoliticians, judges

The F.B.I is bornThe F.B.I is born– J.Edgar HooverJ.Edgar Hoover– Dedicated, independent force against Org. CrimeDedicated, independent force against Org. Crime

STILL couldn’t trap CaponeSTILL couldn’t trap Capone– Finally jailed for tax evasion!Finally jailed for tax evasion!

Violating ProhibitionViolating ProhibitionThe 18The 18thth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Prohibition of Prohibition of AlcoholAlcohol

The 18The 18thth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Amendment to the U.S. ConstitutionViolations of Prohibition led Congress to hear testimony to Violations of Prohibition led Congress to hear testimony to

whether the 18whether the 18thth amendment should be repealed. amendment should be repealed.

In Favor of RepealIn Favor of Repeal“I will concede that the saloon was

odious [offensive], but now we have delicatessen stores, pool rooms, drug stores, millinery shops, private parlors, and 57 other varieties of speakeasies selling liquor and flourishing.”

-- Representative LaGuardia of NY, 1926

Against RepealAgainst RepealInstead of lowering our standards,

we urge that the law be strengthened… the closing of the open saloon… has resulted in better national health; children are born under better conditions, homes are better, and the mother is delivered from the fear of a drunken husband.

--Ella A. Boole, president of the NWCTU, 1926

Fundamentalists in conflicts over:

Emerging science and technology

War and widespread crime – Began to question existence/involvement of God

Scholars who criticized the bible– Historically inaccurate? Written by humans?

Contradictory?

Evolution– The Scopes Trial– Fundamentalism v. Science

Other Issues of MoralityOther Issues of MoralityReligious Tension Comes to the ForefrontReligious Tension Comes to the Forefront

Fundamentalism

Religious traditionalists

Christian ideas about Jesus

Argued God inspired the Bible– Therefore it cannot hold contradictions or errors

Favored literal interpretation of the bible

Other Issues of MoralityOther Issues of MoralityReligious Tension Comes to the ForefrontReligious Tension Comes to the Forefront

Famous Fundamentalists

Billy Sunday– Former professional baseball player– Anti-Alcohol– Led WILDLY POPULAR Religious Revival meetings

Sister Aimee– Owned radio station– Used public broadcasts to spread her revival meetings– Broadened her ministry

Other Issues of MoralityOther Issues of MoralityReligious Tension Comes to the ForefrontReligious Tension Comes to the Forefront

The Scopes Trial

Evolution– Theory that human beings and all other living species

developed over time from simpler life forms– Deeply disturbed fundamentalists– Contradicts the history of “Creation”

1925, TN bans teaching evolution in school– Science teacher John T. Scopes challenges

constitutionality

Other Issues of MoralityOther Issues of MoralityReligious Tension Comes to the ForefrontReligious Tension Comes to the Forefront

The Scopes Trial (continued)

William Jennings Bryan v. Clarence Darrow– Outspoken fundamentalist lawyer

v. Passionate supporter of free speech

(New) Mass media made the trial wildly popular

Other Issues of MoralityOther Issues of MoralityReligious Tension Comes to the ForefrontReligious Tension Comes to the Forefront