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Essay / The Prohibition Era and Organized Crime in America ever known. Known as the Prohibition Era, this was the time when alcohol was banned in the United States. It was a time when society suffered from alcoholism, political corruption, and even domestic violence. As a result, there was a rise in religious revivalism, which directed much of its efforts toward abolitionism, temperance, and the perfectionism of human beings. This is a movement that had been brewing since the early 1820s and did not come into existence until the early 1920s. Some traces of temperance date back to the 1800s, where the Church played an important role in popularizing developments and ideologies. The Prohibition Era came into effect with the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment led to a ban on the manufacture, transportation and sale of any intoxicating beverage. Later, the Volstead Act came to help enforce temperance (Stelzer). However, the irony of these efforts brought into society an even more complex problem and social nightmare that the Church had not anticipated, the rise of organized crime. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayDesignThe Prohibition Era is a period between the 1920s and 1930s, when the production, transportation, importation, and even sale of alcohol was prohibited. Lasting approximately 13 years, this story marked one of the infamous stories that shaped America into what it is today. Temperance, declared in the early 1800s, gained momentum over the years. Much of the support came from the Church where religious revivalism was intense, pushing toward human perfectionism and abolitionist ideals. At the time, most campaigns claimed that alcoholism was a real problem and that domestic violence was on the rise. At the same time, there was some element of political corruption, with most people directing opposition programs. By 1833, there were more than 6,000 local corporations in the United States. The push to gain legal support for temperance began in parts of Massachusetts, where the ban on spirits began with banning sales of less than 15 gallons. It was in Maine that the first prohibition laws were passed in 1846. This marked the beginning of a wave of legislation before the American Civil War came into play. Later came the Eighteenth amendment to the American Constitution. This happened in December 1917, when both houses of the US Congress passed a law banning the production, transportation, importation and sale of alcohol. Ratification then took place in 1919, when three-quarters of the American states adhered to the project. Much of the design of the amendment was associated with Anti-Saloon League leader Wayne Wheeler. However, due to the slow pace of enforcement, it was necessary to pass implementing legislation, which took the form of the Volstead Act. This is called the National Prohibition Act. The law was enacted in 1919 and took effect the following year. This worked in tandem with the Eighteenth Amendment in implementing legislation. Andrew Volstead, then chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, had been the key force behind the bill and ultimatelybehind the ban. The president, Woodrow Wilson, however, vetoed the bill, but Congress later vetoed the bill. The Fall of Prohibition The prohibition of alcohol received great support from the Church. Most Church leaders who argued for the ban cited the idea that society was better off without drunkenness. People could live better and even healthier lives if they avoided alcohol in their lives. They were able to live a healthier family life, defend their dreams and work diligently towards the growth and social stardom of the country. However, what the Church and most politicians pushing for abolition was the proliferation of illegal alcohol. There was a preconceived notion that money that previously went to alcohol would now be fuel for a prosperous new economy. Most people now bought alcohol illegally. There were people who still brewed home-made alcohol, while for most of the decade that followed there were those who took the business to the next level, bootlegging, distilling operations private and clandestine bars. People weren't going to go without drinking from time to time, so they sought to source their alcohol from the illegal channels that were now more common (Carlan, Lisa and Ragan). The proliferation of illegal circuits is not attributed to people wanting to drink alcohol, but rather to the economics surrounding alcohol. When the ban period started it affected customers the least, it was the breweries which employed thousands of people and the distilleries (Ray). Businesses involved in supply chains have been hit hard. Hop growers who had invested millions in the industry. The truck driver who made deliveries throughout the supply chain was now unemployed (Hauckand Sven). This was the same case for coopers and other support service providers throughout the supply chain. For all the people who lost their jobs, it was time to fight back against the system. People were now more ruthless in making sure their business was in business and delivering alcohol to their customers without fail. Amid the uprising of illegal alcohol sales came more refined business operations. Speakeasies were now the new establishments selling illegal alcohol, now that bars were no longer legal. Typically, people opened legitimate businesses and used a few rooms as hidden bars. We were likely to find an ice cream parlor that was a speakeasy (Carlan, Lisa and Ragan). They were literally nightclubs with jazz musicians and singers. However, you had to know the password to enter. Even the drinks were not referred to by their real name. They were given pseudonyms that users had to know before being served. There was a code for the operation of illegal distillation, production, transportation and distribution of alcohol for sale. The secretive nature of speakeasies also allowed women to drink. Previously, women consuming alcoholic beverages were frowned upon, but the secretive nature of illegal purchases allowed them to enjoy their drinks without much worry. However, operators mostly had to bribe local officials, police and local politicians to operate. This is where the Prohibition era took a turn for the worse, with the arrival of organized crime and 2018.
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