Prohibition

Prohibition, an exponential social experiment conducted for economic and social reasons, turned into one of the most criminal, corrupt, and socially moving periods in history. During Prohibition, there was an astronomical amount of black market action including speakeasies and bootleggers that conducted the entire alcohol industry. Gangsters were rampant throughout the years of prohibition's reign and controlled the black market, the officials, and the businesses and people through violence and bribery. However, there was also a positive change that accompanied prohibition; women took steps toward gender equality through movement against prohibition and taking part in it. Prohibition was an economic-fueled movement that resulted in social and political events that challenged the American system such as organized crime, change in standards of social behavior, corruption, and an explosion in the black market. All of these events resulted in the most elaborate social experiment in American history.

Economics were a major force in the idea, the passing, the event, and the revoking of Prohibition. After the civil war in 1865, the American government started cashing in on alcohol to repay war debts. Instituting license fees and taxing production and consumption did this. This new area of revenue made up a large amount of the government’s income at the time. However, economic factors surrounding this temperance movement were not central to the government; businesses also had major economic components that surrounded alcohol. For example, many business owners pushed for prohibition due to the effect alcohol had on their ability to make profits. Factory owners thought alcohol was bad for business. Many of the men who worked within the factory were not able to work the long hours that were necessary for the businesses to function. This was because of the physical strain overindulgence had on the worker’s ability to remain industrious after having consumed too much alcohol. Not only were work hours affected, but also the quality of the work. Men who had been drinking too much would have poor quality work, resulting in sub-par products. The decline in the quality of the products led factory owners to make less money, and therefore they suffered and alcohol proved a responsible element in this situation. Other businesses, however, suffered greatly at the hands of prohibition. Bottle manufacturers, label makers, and most of all breweries and distilleries were closed down at the start of prohibition for no fault of their own except making alcohol, which had newly become illegal. These factories' owners and workers lost their livelihoods and suffered. This lack of income led to a drastic lack of disposable income; meaning that there was less money being circulated in the system, stumping the expansion of American economies. However, those making the alcohol were not the only people who lost money at the illegalization of alcohol. The American government lost all the income they had been accumulating through license fees and taxes, creating a hole in the federal income. Once prohibition had started, the need for law enforcement was unprecedented due to the massive amounts of organized crime being conducted in the illegal trade of underground alcohol throughout the black market. This need for enforcements led to a major strain on the federal budget. This money was not finding its way back into the system because all the profit on alcohol that the government lost out on went to organized crime in ten folds. The government overtaxed many businesses to compensate for the losses of no alcohol, which resulted in outcries against prohibition.

There were many social reasons why Prohibition was passed, including religion, family suffering from alcohol, united groups against alcohol, and pursuit of an upstanding nation.

Religion was a key roll in the passing of prohibition. Religious leaders and influencers all believed and promoted that with temperance, human perfectibility was possible. They all believed that humans would be more pure without the effects of alcohol. These beliefs were successful in turning of people’s opinions because, at the time, religion was a main factor in human culture and the idea of perfection was swaying for its biblical meaning. The religious population believed that by abiding by these regulations, they would appease their God and go to heaven, which was the ultimate goal in the way people lived their lives in obedience. “The fight for prohibition is synonymous with the fight of certain religious sect…. for the supremacy of its ideas” (P. Andreae). This quote by Percy Andrews illustrates that by fighting for temperance people were not just fighting for the abolishment of alcohol, but for the glorification of religion. Prohibition’s affect on businesses was not only economic; it was as social an issue as religious temperance. “Mandating national Prohibition outlawed the manufacturing, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages—clearly an attack on the business end of the liquor industry, which, curiously enough, mirrored the overall anti-corporate thrust of the progressive era” (Rose, 391). During this time, there were groups of people who were against the progression of the industrial world. By passing this movement, a huge industry would collapse, bringing many others down as well, which not only supported the anti-corporate movements, but also was a motivator for those under the influence of producerism; these people wanted too large businesses to fail because they believed that the success of these business was hinged on taking advantage of the working class people. Efforts by women’s organizations were one of the largest components in getting the eighteenth amendment passed. Groups such as the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) were created to face the familiar issues facing alcoholism in the men in society. The main reasons for the women’s forceful action were problems in the home. Alcoholism in men was ruining society’s family units. This was the only way women could protect their families from alcoholic husbands because there was no other way to stop marital rape, abuse, or approach divorce, due to rigid social restrains. However, one of the most predominant issues caused by husband’s alcohol abuse was the depletion of resources. Men would spend their weekly earnings on booze leaving families to starve. This motivation proved strong enough to sway people’s opinions on temperance and help propel the American people towards prohibition. Religious women’s groups also had a large role in temperance. They combined religious beliefs, women’s protection, and also another issue facing the women of the early 1900s: image. Many women wanted to protect the image of delicacy, and beauty that surrounded women and they believed that the only way was to make sure women never drank. This combination of efforts proves that “All great reforms go together” (Prohibition, F. Douglas). This unity behind several movements lead by women moved the American people closer to gender equality, forced by the strength of the women in these movements. But the more melancholy view of this strength was rooted in the fact that “their alliance to the cause of prohibition took its origin in the fact that some near relative or friend had succumbed to over indulgence in liquor” and that the reprimands were what inspired the women to finally use their voice and fight for a social issue (P.Andreae). Other people were also inspired by life experiences. Groups of sobriety were formed before Prohibition was proposed but were part of the temperance movement in the 1800s and continued to use their weight in the backing of prohibition. The Washingtonian society was comprised of former alcoholics who had realized their problem and wanted to prevent others from making those same mistakes. The success of these reformed people served as proof that a life without alcohol can make you a more successful person and can help or social status. The popularity of the groups resulted in them having a lot of power and helping people with drinking problems as well as having people pledge to sobriety. The Cold-Water Army was a similar group of sober people; comprised of varied people who had made a pledge of sobriety. However this group was made up of those who did not have to try alcohol to realize its destructive abilities. It included children, men, and women, and was successful for many years. All of these groups of people supported one notion: nobility. Many people believed that Prohibition was noble and would keep them above others in society who had succumbed to its evils. No member of polite society wanted to become unproductive due to alcoholism and become like those who were below the in the social scale. An example of this is immigrant status. Once natives of American society were introduced to the Old Immigrants there was automatically a feeling of superiority among those who had been born in America above those who had moved here. To protect their status they would live upstanding lives to further show the contrast against the new comers, beyond were each was born. This need to live an industrious, American life intensified as New Immigrants started to arrive on American soil; this leads to Old Immigrants trying to maintain a status above the New Immigrants, regardless of maintaining a status below the natives. Temperance was a tool for the people among the Old Immigrants. It showed their purity in contrast to the heavy drinkers included in these new people clouding their ‘almost American’ society. Scientific evidence was often used, as it has always been, to further prove to point of the impurity of alcohol and further diminish the reputations of the immigrants. One such piece of evidence was Inquiry into the Effect of Spirituous Liquors on the human Body and Mind by Dr. Rush. This played on the doubts of the public and swayed them into temperance to avoid falling into the slums with the non-American. These beliefs all led to the notion of “God made the country, but man made the town” (Prohibition, Wheeler). People wanted to uphold to standards of early 1900s America and make a town strong enough to ‘out moral’ all others. This idea of moral purity and rightness is the strongest of motivators because failure means damnation and any sacrifice to avoid such results can be and was taken.

For every strong force behind Prohibition there was a strong resistance. Social resistance was just as strong as social forces, however the resistance had many more facets of supporters. The men were avidly against prohibition. To take away the saloon would be to take away their town centre and they felt the absence of the saloon very deeply upon the passing of the eighteenth amendment. To the male, working population the saloon was the support system, business contact center, and social meeting place. They went to the saloon after a long week of work and connected with other men; the unemployed would go to the saloon and meet business men who may be hiring. However, there was more to the saloon than its practicality. To the men of the time going out for drinks was a sign of masculinity, “the brass rail was more than a foot rest, it was a symbol of masculinity and emancipate of manhood, free to put its feet on something” (Prohibition). The saloon was to only place were a working man could escape from the pressures of having a family and relax with a hard earned drink. Many common people were against temperance for the effect on morals. They felt they, as bread winners, had the right to spend a portion of their hard earned money on the pleasure of a drink at the saloon. Drinking was present at every celebration and joyous moment, there fore without it these special times seem less defined. People believed that without drinking there would be less joy and celebration, and people would less able to relax. The problem with this idea of the government taking away drink was that it resulted in the government taking away fun; meaning this was more than an infringement on freedom but the right to pursue happiness. This suspicion of government intentions would soon lead to a large part of the temperance resistance. Another group of people were also leading a strong resistance to temperance, the youth. The new youth of the time was anxious break free from archaic rules and systems. Many used drinking and other behavior to break free of the mold set by previous generations. This rebellious behavior by the new youth was predominant in its ability for one reason, it was a threat. This bold faced resolve to break the rules of their seniors was a threat to the old systems and ways, this was the main reason way traditional members of society tried1 to crack down on youth behavior, but this mentality only fueled the fire and gave the new youth the power they needed to make a difference. Their resistance was not only towards prohibition but also towards equality of all kinds. The new youth wanted to change the entire dynamic of the American social system. This movement for change altered people’s resolve towards not only temperance but radical equality and suffrage. The bold, arguably reckless, resistance of the new youth was a powerful piece of the pull against prohibition. The most motivated group however was the working class. Middle class Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own were outraged. They were punished without any cause and as a result they and their families were suffering. They were faced with economic strife because of the lack of income from loosing their jobs. The amount of workers affected by the shutting down of the alcohol industry were so great that they created an enormous part of the resistance.

There was also an ethical resistance to prohibition. Many people who were deeply and negatively affected by prohibition saw an ethical problem with this amendment. The fact that it was hurting them and not protecting them was a growing point in protest against prohibition. The eighteenth amendment was the only amendment put in place to restrict the rights of the American citizens. This display of the central government taking power away from states and people caused the public to question whether the alliance of the government was to them, or perhaps not. This kind of power being used in the personal decisions of citizens had not been seen since people had been ruled by a King who infringed on individual rights. People who feel unjustly treated by the government may be obliged to revolt to protect their position. This would not only threaten the government but also the system by which this country is run. This was the first time a majority of Americans considered that a law passed by their leaders could not be in their best interest. This idea caused masses of people to form disrespect for the law. This resulted in crime and noncompliance of the American people. Enforcements put in place to monitor temperance were unable to control the people who felt they had a right to drink and who conducted a record amount of illegal business to fulfill that right. In many occasions people too law enforcement into their own hands. Again this idea of people controlling the law and punishment dances with the idea of a nationwide revolt.

The evolution of drinking habits pre to post prohibition is an important part of understanding were both view points are getting their motivation. From the 1700s to the mid 1800s people drank low grade alcoholic drinks very often throughout the day. Seeing as these drinks were around 2%, despite the fact that people drank them often most were not able to get drunk off of this costume. However, from mid 1800s and onwards people continued these habits but the drinks were stronger and therefore people were getting drunk fast and constantly. These habits had run their course before people realized that there was something wrong. These new, stronger, drinks were courtesy of the growing grain industry. Grains such as barley and wheat were more abundant now than ever before and therefore making drinks such as whiskey was easier, more affordable, and more available. With 80% whiskey to drink in place of 2% beer the drinking population was susceptible to overindulgence. As people started to realize that whiskey was not an equal substitute for beer the abuse slowed. However, there were some who continued old habits with new resources and ended up making those around them pay for the damages. It was not just Americans who had their drinking costumes but also the immigrants. New Immigrants brought over their own drinking habits from their countries of origin. However, these people were not victim to the industrialized drink and therefore were able to stay civil and non-violent. Their drinking in general though was still used against them by Old Immigrants and natives as a way of labeling them less American than themselves and therefore less civilized.

Social behavior changed thought Prohibition, as well. People evolved alongside their country. Some of these changes brought constriction while others brought freedom. Older generations were strongly pressuring the temperance movement. They had a fear of losing control to the new youth which made them adamant on restricting them. This method, however, resulted in a rebellious youth and an elevated crime rate. It is clear that these older people were grasping for control because of their case. They preached that alcohol would be the undoing of civilized society; however indulgence in alcohol is an ancient concept. Should this be fatal to a society it would have proved so millennia earlier. There was also a new morality presented with the idea of sobriety. This new standard put a strain on those resolved to meet these standards and made any fall from grace a long journey because with a new low in society, there is less of a chance to succeed in achieving a better social standing. For example, prior to prohibition a drink would be a common, social thing to do. Now, however, it would damn you to the slums of society. These pressures were elevated by the fast enactment of temperance. Despite the women’s movements that had pushed prohibition into passing, many women were displaying behavior that contradicted the previous angelic standards of being the gentler sec. With alcohol being made and stored at home it was much more available for women to drink. Women started drinking to “see what the fuss was about” and ended as much part of the now illegal costume as men (1). Women being part of the illegal business of alcohol gave it a glamorous allure that would further propel the business of speakeasies into success. There was a silver lining of their behavior that would benefit all the women who had fought for temperance. Women had access into speakeasies which was previously denied with saloons. This crucial difference was another step towards gender equality that would improve the women’s standing for the rest of time. Besides drink, temperance sparked other non moral behavior into action that ends up lighting up new youth society in the roaring twenties. Revealing clothing, gender intermingling and risky fashion were all gaining spotlight; and as these bold youths gain more control over their actions, the older generations have less control over everything.

Enforcement of prohibition was a near impossible task; with the few successes in the entirety of America organized crime was still rampant and powerful. Costume service agents saved five percent of alcohol coming over the borders to the North and South. These officers were underpaid and therefore easy to bribe, allowing wealthy bootleggers and gangsters to conduct their risky business undetected. With the best agents in the system they only managed to stop four percent in one year, of alcohol from crossing the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. This level of achievement only encouraged gangsters in their businesses because during prohibition, when people were willing to pay astronomical prices for booze, the risk of being caught was hopelessly outweighed by the reward. The United States government lost millions of dollars in attempt to control crime involving alcohol. This was a large set back because this money was not being readily replaced. By enacting temperance the government had lost out on taxes from all aspect of temperance including production, transportation, and consumption of alcohol. The national coast guard was successful in stopping the Rum Row off of the east coast, which included alcohol being sold from large boats and being brought to shore. They were unable, however, to stop to gangsters that had been involved in Rum Row due to lack of resources and the threat of the wealthy and violent gangs. The Bureau of International trade was responsible for regulating prohibition. Their team involved 70,000 workers around the nation. All of these workers were as underpaid as the costume agents which had the same result of bribery among thousands of workers to turn their heads and allow the illicit trade of alcohol to take place. During 1921 they managed to confiscate half a million gallons of liquor and five million gallons of beer. They had more success in 1926 when they confiscated one million gallons of liquor and seven million gallons of beer. Though these numbers may seem high by themselves, they were a fraction of the alcohol being traded, let alone consumed in America. Two of the most successful police officer during prohibition were; Izzy Einstein and Moe Smith. They were the most successful agents in New York City. They solved twenty percent of all the cases and gained a reputation among speakeasies and gangsters. This danger was one of the most feared aspects of being in the enforcement businesses. Gangsters, bootleggers, speakeasy owners, and desperate drinkers were more than willing to be violent against anyone who threatened their booze or their cash. This ineffective trend in law enforcement harbored the idea that “you can no more prevent an individual from taking a drink if he be so inclined than you can prevent him from scratching himself if he itches” (P. Andreae). By this, Percy Andrews meant that here was no stopping drinking in society. It is impossible to control the action of an entire nation, especially when that action is done by everyone. If all of the people who broke disobeyed the eighteenth amendment were put into jail the cities of America would have been empty.

Corruption was present throughout prohibition and could be found in politicians, police force, courts, and jails. Politicians were lenient on buyers of alcohol but less so on suppliers. The reason behind this was simple; if they were caught their punishment would be lenient as well. Many politicians naturally continued to drink after the passing of the eighteenth amendment. By making alcohol consumer punishments less severe, they protect themselves should they ever be caught participating in the black market. Many laws were passed throughout prohibition by courts to control the black market but they were not enforced. This lack of conviction in rules allowed for people’s disrespect for the law to grow. They realized that if there were no punishments for the laws than the people did not have to obey them. One of the main reasons these laws were not enforced was gangsters. Gangsters had power over courts, juries, and judges by using threats, money and alcohol to control people in their favor. In one case “The jurors all admitted drinking the pint of liquor which was the prosecution’s chief exhibit against” the accused (Jurors Go On Trial, Drank Up Evidence, 393). But corruption was not only present in official building but on the streets of America. Speakeasies were popular and almost impossible to shut down. There were police on gangster payrolls to not report any crimes on the officer’s beat. It was common knowledge that “almost in authority from police officers to judges could be paid off” (U.S.A, 177). Speakeasies were also well protected and mobile. Systems were in place to hide alcohol from being found should there be a surprise visit form the local sheriff; but if a speakeasy was ‘closed down’ by the next night it would be in a different location but with all the same customers, bands, and alcohol. Seeing the success of gangsters and bootleggers many enforcement officials changed perfusions to members of organized crime. Compared to their jobs in the system working for criminals was more lucrative, secure and gave them more power than they would have in the local police force. And their previous work experience was invaluable information to the crime bosses while trying to avoid the ‘heavy hand’ of the law. This sign of weakness that appeared as men abandoned enforcement jobs further broke apart the American enforcement system. People, especially criminals, were able to see the cracks in the armor and this unified the people even more in their resistance to prohibition.

Organized crime was a major part of prohibition. It was involved in every aspect of the movement. Organized crime grew wealthy on all the money that the government lost out on and was losing on enforcement. People bought alcohol from gangsters, bootleggers, and speakeasies instead of buying it at a regulated store which means there was not liquor or sales tax. I was growing more and more apparent that “Making the liquor business illegal simply opened up a new market for gangsters to exploit” (U.S.A, 173). People both desperate for a drink and eager to open up a lucrative speakeasy were willing to pay several times more for alcohol than they would have if the market was open. This demand for the black market good made gangsters wealthy beyond the imagination of the majority of the public. All costs of enforcement were wasted; gangsters either paid off officers or avoided them altogether. The forces meant to control crime were over powered and outnumbered. Had the gangsters been careless they still would not have a chance to stop them all. There was also simply not enough jail space for all criminals involved in the black market to be incarcerated. This mass of criminals put an immeasurable strain on government resources and made the entire system less affective by placing them on an impossible mission. Speakeasies, gangs, and bootleggers thrived in their businesses despite being ‘under the radar’. This is because any quality of work was guaranteed success. Despite the credibility of speaks, strength of gangs and poor bootlegged alcohol common people would still pay to have a drink, no matter the quality or the origins. The hold that organized crime had over entire cities was enough to shift the power of the American government.

Speakeasies flourished through prohibition; they were known for their changes in social norms and the picture they provided of a wet life. New York and Chicago were speakeasy capitals with over 32,000 in New York City and 20,000 in Chicago. When a bar was closed, a pair of speakeasies opened. Not only were they plentiful, but they were a stable part of the economy. Many financial supporters of speaks were wealthy, important people from the height of social respectability. They and the young women who flooded the speaks are what gave the roaring twenties the mysterious, beautiful face it has today. Not only were women allowed to participate in the illicit acts of speaks, but they also helped them become successes. Women having the earlier reputation of decency and purity were not likely suspects of smuggling the prohibited good. Therefore they were a new resource for all aspects or organized crime; they would hide alcohol in their garters, dresses, and underthings, making searching them impossible during the time of refinement. Two of the most successful speak owners were Barney Gallant and Texas Guinan. Gallant “allowed no drunken rowdiness on his premises” and therefore earned the reputation of owning high-class establishments that had no resemblance to the rough dirty saloon. Guinan was a more rambunctious speak owner. Her speakeasy was more rowdy and risky; despite this however, she was never closed down. However, the type of speak she had did not down play her success. “Her earnings during a 10-month period totaled $700,000” which was more money than a majority of Americans made in a year (1, pg 114).

Home Distilleries were very popular among those who could not afford the running rates of gangster-run speakeasies. “The demand for alcohol was outweighing (and out winning) the demand for sobriety” (8). People were becoming more separate and were learning how to be more creative in their alcohol consumption and production. Home experiments with alcohol were not always safe. Many people died due to home distillation. Poor quality alcohol blinded, poisoned, and often times killed the drinker due to bad chemical reactions, and poor ingredients. But one of the most successful productions of home distillation was the cocktail. Cocktails contained juice and liquor and were completely unlike beer or whiskey. Therefore the drink appealed to many more people. This process of making alcohol at home was also responsible for drastically increasing the numbers of wets within the nation. Prior to prohibition, only the wealthy could afford to drink anything but beer regularly, but now that common people could make alcohol at a low cost, more people were able to indulge in alcohol than ever before.

There were many product on the market that could be made into decent alcoholic drinks while using little money and time. The more people that turned wet the more backing that prohibition lost, further breaking down the power behind prohibition.

At the end of Prohibition, all of these pieces came together. The resistance was organized with all groups of people including men, women, politicians, and economists. This vast unity was an intimidating force compared to the disintegrating support behind temperance. By using prohibition as a scapegoat for the great depression many of the people who had primarily been dry turned toward the repeal of the eighteenth amendment, if for nothing else than to helps their families survive their difficult economic times that were arriving. People were starting to realize that by opening up he alcohol industry again people would get jobs and the GDP would increase. As the amendment was repealed and speaks became bars, organized crime disappeared. Without the demand for alcohol, there was no market for gangsters, bootleggers, or speakeasies. This not only made a safer country, but also released the strain that had been on the enforcement system for several years. Finally, a quote from Will Rogers states: “If you think this country ain’t dry just watch ‘em vote; if you think this country ain’t wet, just watch ‘em drink. You see when they vote, its counted, but when they drink it ain’t.” (Our American Century, 110) This shows the general idea behind prohibition. People of all walks of life voted for a nation wide temperance movement; but when it was put into action alcohol consumption more than doubled. This means that there is motivation behind the voting of temperance besides the dislike toward alcohol; money. Women were against alcohol because all of the house's income was used on it by their husbands. Religious leaders were against alcohol because people were using their money on something that only benefitted themselves, not the worship of god. Businesses voted for temperance because alcohol was making it harder for them to earn more profit. Prohibition may have been a social experiment, but it was an economic movement.