The Effects of Prohibition and Its Impact on America
A big reason Prohibition was a failure was because people also got alcohol illegally without getting caught. Bootleggers (people who transported alcohol illegally) became common and fishermen put alcohol in barrels and claimed it was flour or sugar. By 1927, more than 10,000 Americans brewed at home secretly. Illegal drinking establishments also became common throughout the United States. Many Americans protested in the streets and crime became an everyday occurrence. Before Prohibition, only men were encouraged to go to saloons, but while it was in effect, women were also encouraged to attend. Criminals became very rich because alcohol was so expensive, but their customers paid an even higher price for it. Americans who could afford smuggled liquor went to illegal places more often, which also made bootleggers and other criminals wealthy. Eventually, the government had to choose which was worse: alcohol or crime.
Prohibition caused many businesses to fail. The American government could not collect taxes, which was a big reason businesses failed. The brewing industry was the most prosperous before Prohibition, so it lost the most money during Prohibition. The closing of breweries and saloons led to loss of jobs, which later caused barrel makers, waiters, and many others to reduce their number of employees. The government had relied so much on the sale of alcohol to make money that they lost billions of dollars.
The supporters of Prohibition never imagined so many negative effects. They thought that real estate would improve and companies would grow. Eventually, many supporters of Prohibition were opposed to it and wanted it to be repealed. In the last few years of Prohibition, supporters even started to violate the laws they had helped pass, and when it was finally repealed in 1933, almost everyone was happy to see it go.
Although there were many awful consequences of Prohibition, there were a few good ones. It actually saved 3,500,000 tons of food materials, and $3,000,000,000. However, the money saved was not close to the amount lost because of Prohibition.
There were many organizations that were in favor of Prohibition, but there were also groups that were against such laws. Some were: the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment (AAPA), and the Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform. Like the Prohibitionist groups, these groups also inspired a constitutional amendment; the 21st amendment, which repealed the 18th amendment. On December 5th, 1933, the 21st amendment was signed into effect and it officially put an end to Prohibition in the United States. Almost immediately, Americans drank again.
Prohibition caused many businesses to fail. The American government could not collect taxes, which was a big reason businesses failed. The brewing industry was the most prosperous before Prohibition, so it lost the most money during Prohibition. The closing of breweries and saloons led to loss of jobs, which later caused barrel makers, waiters, and many others to reduce their number of employees. The government had relied so much on the sale of alcohol to make money that they lost billions of dollars.
The supporters of Prohibition never imagined so many negative effects. They thought that real estate would improve and companies would grow. Eventually, many supporters of Prohibition were opposed to it and wanted it to be repealed. In the last few years of Prohibition, supporters even started to violate the laws they had helped pass, and when it was finally repealed in 1933, almost everyone was happy to see it go.
Although there were many awful consequences of Prohibition, there were a few good ones. It actually saved 3,500,000 tons of food materials, and $3,000,000,000. However, the money saved was not close to the amount lost because of Prohibition.
There were many organizations that were in favor of Prohibition, but there were also groups that were against such laws. Some were: the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment (AAPA), and the Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform. Like the Prohibitionist groups, these groups also inspired a constitutional amendment; the 21st amendment, which repealed the 18th amendment. On December 5th, 1933, the 21st amendment was signed into effect and it officially put an end to Prohibition in the United States. Almost immediately, Americans drank again.