Why was prohibition introduced in the
USA?
Learning objective – to understand the
reasons
why
America
introduced
prohibition.
I can describe the
different reasons why
American introduced
prohibition.
Grade D
I can explain and make
links between the
different
reasons
behind why people
supported prohibition.
Grade B
I can explain the links
between
and
the
importance of the causes
behind prohibition
Grade A and A*.
Starter – out the 48 states of America
in 1919 – how many had banned
alcohol?
Answer - 32 states out of 48.
What was prohibition?
Prohibition in the USA was
the
banning
of
the
manufacturing and sale of
alcoholic drinks.
Prohibition in USA lasted
from 1920 to 1933.
By 1919, 32 US states –
mainly in the Old South and
West - had banned the
consumption of alcohol.
Who campaigned for
prohibition?
The
Women’s
Christian
Temperance Union [WCTU]
opposed alcohol on moral and
religious grounds.
Formed in 1875 and led by such
preachers as Carrie Nation.
They
were
famous
for
campaigning outside saloons
using the Bible as well as
smashing
bars
up
with
hatchets.
Who campaigned for
prohibition?
The major protest group was the
Anti-Saloon League [ASL], formed
in 1893 and led by Wayne
Wheeler.
The ASL targeted support from the
church and helped to elect ‘dry’
politicians to US Congress.
The ASL was influential in the
initial states – Oklahoma and
Tennessee
–
introducing
prohibition.
Which parts of society supported
prohibition?
Most support for prohibition came from small towns
and rural areas where the Protestant church was
strongest.
They were critical of the standards of behaviour and
morality in the major northern cities and saw alcohol as
the root of such social evils as crime and poverty.
Such was the growing support for prohibition that
many politicians were reluctant to openly oppose
prohibition for fear of losing votes.
Why was prohibition supported?
Moral reasons
Many believed that alcohol
ruined family life and caused
child abuse.
Working men were portrayed
as spending most of their
wages on drinking then going
home drunk and in a violent
mood.
Religious reasons
Seen as unchristian to drink because
it encouraged immoral behaviour.
Commercial reasons
Rockefeller was a leading figure in
the prohibition campaign.
Businessmen felt that alcohol
damaged productivity and created
health and safety issues in the
workplace.
Why was prohibition supported?
Impact of the First World War
The war boosted the prohibition
campaign as it was seen as the use of
grain to make alcohol was a waste.
Racial Reasons
There were close associations with
drinking alcohol and immigrant
groups.
Alcohol was seen to potentially damage
discipline in the army – even now alcohol
is banned in the US Navy.
Immigrant groups had settled in the
major cities away from the small
towns and rural areas dominated by
WASPs.
The growth of anti-German feeling led to
a fall in drinking beer from the major
breweries who had German origins, such
as Budweiser.
Prohibition was seen as a way to
preserving the WASP way of life.
How was prohibition introduced in the
USA?
The 18th Amendment to the US
Constitution in 1919 barred the
consumption
of
‘intoxicating
liquor’.
This was further refined in the
Volstead Act of 1919, which
defined ‘intoxicating liquor’ as any
drink containing more than 0.5%
alcohol.
This came into force in January
1920 – the ‘noble experiment’ had
begun.
Main task
Stick your copy of this comic
strip in your exercise book
and make notes around the
comic strip explaining each
reason why prohibition was
passed.
Extension tasks
Which reason was the most
significant in explaining why
prohibition was passed?
Design
a
prohibition
campaign leaflet justifying
why you want national
prohibition.
Plenary
This word cloud summarises
the content of today’s lesson.
Pick out the three most
important words and explain
why they summarise your
learning in the lesson.