The Victories of Prohibition
Uploaded by lmmu on May 23, 2007
Throughout America’s many years of growth and expansion, vast scores of ideas presented themselves unto the country. One such idea, prominent and essential to the nation, became temperance (prohibition). Prohibition included the end of alcohol sale, manufacture, and transportation, which stood wonderful as alcohol exists as an evil drink perverting society. Therefore, prohibition’s purpose proved solid and upright, with intentions to lead America towards a united society of greater liberties, and thus, needs implementation in modern American life.
Prohibition did not sprout from the air; the country believed in and supported its amazing potential long before the Eighteenth Amendment. Its goals included bettering the individual which, in turn, bettered society and the nation as a whole. When Abraham Lincoln developed his immortal Emancipation Proclamation, he enacted the powers of prohibition and, eventually, ended the vile and monstrous act of slavery. This, in time, cleaned up the nation, making it a better society; however, Lincoln cultivated greater ideas. He desired a nation free from the burden and strife of liquor, and knew that by abolishing alcohol the United States could rise to a truly beautiful state. He believed, “The victory against the liquor traffic shall be complete when there shall be neither slaves nor drunkards upon the earth, and how proud the title of that land which may truly claim to be the birthplace and the cradle of both these revolutions . . .” (qtd. in Holmes 40). America, at that time, traveled the path to the victory Lincoln spoke of, and found much support and a greater sense of nationalistic pride.
A plethora of people supported prohibition, especially with groups like the Anti-Saloon League and the Women Christian’s Temperance Union. Even the “evil” men of big business supported prohibition; all of the major railroads and factories of the country maintained an alcohol abstinence policy, because they understood the evils and hindrances of the drink. Furthermore, by the time the Eighteenth Amendment passed, thirty-three of the forty-eight states already possessed prohibition legislature, meaning a resounding eighty-seven percent of the nation proudly stood dry (Holmes 42). America knew the reasons for the necessity of banning the filth of alcohol.
Alcohol also possesses a direct correlation to crime. Breweries proved one of the most powerful industries at the turn of the century, and thus proved very competitive. In order...