Prohibition Coursework 1

The two powerful pressure groups that were involved in the banning of alcohol were the A.S.L (Anti-Saloon League) and the W.C.T.U (Women’s Christian Temperance Union). These two groups became powerful political forces during the passing of the national ban on alcohol. During the winter of 1873-1874, the “Woman’s Crusade” who were normally quiet housewives dropped to their knees so that the sale of liquor would be stopped in local saloons.  In less than three months, the women had driven liquor of 250 communities and realized that a lot could be accomplished by standing together. Also, the women were very keen and determined to get rid of liquor and would not stop until almost all sellers capitulated. On the other hand, the Anti-Saloon League had general ideas about the advantages of prohibition, which were having a society with less crime, domestic abuse, neglect and accidents.

Also, they predicted that with proper guidance, people who were addicted to drinking and spent their lives in saloons would be reformed into better parents and workers. As well as this, the Anti-Saloon League had scientific ideas. They began accumulating evidence of the effect that quantities of alcohol had on the nervous system and general physical condition. Furthermore, the big business at the time was financing the campaigns as it was a force to be reckoned with, for example: J.D Rockefeller wanted to ban alcohol because his workers came to work with hangovers which evidently stopped them from doing their work. Therefore he funded the campaigns for the A.S.L and the W.C.T.U and donated $500 million dollars to medical research at universities. Many business men were not profiting because they couldn’t afford to sack their employees so they turned to prohibition which they thought was the only answer and the best option they had, in order to make some sort of profit.

As a result of prohibition, the United States saw the rise of gangsters in big cities. The gangsters saw that the ban of alcohol had a huge fortune which could be made from the illegal liquor trade. Gangsters such as “Bugs” Moran, Dion O’Banion and Al Capone became extremely wealthy from their illegal activities. But these gangsters fought each other viciously for control of the liquor business in cities like Detroit, New York and above all Chicago. Finally these gangsters influenced most of the illegal activities nowadays such as, selling illegal drugs.