Source related work on Prohibition.
Extracts from this document...
Introduction
U.S.A Coursework Both historians in sources A and B most likely got their information from books as these sources where published roughly 50 years after prohibition came into effect. This means that both sources are 2nd sources not primary sources. It is very unlikely that both historians got their sources from people at the time of prohibition because they probably would be too old and have short memory of what happened at the time. There are a few points that both historians agree on. The main one is that the widespread increase of crime was due to prohibition. The source A says "it created the greatest criminal boom." This contrasts into what source B says ".... turned the avoidance of prohibition into big, violent business." ...read more.
Middle
Distilling was used to produce beer or alcohol. People in America suggested that the grain should be used for making bread for the allies in the war. But both historians do not really disagree with each other but only do not mention things. This is probably because it was a different place where they got their information from or the details might be too minor. Source B is a lot more detailed about the Anti-Saloon League than source A is because it mentions the Women's Temperance Union. Source A probably hasn't mentioned this as he feels it isn't important. Source A states that in 1917, twenty-three states were dry but B doesn't because A's information is spread over a period of time whereas B's information is concentrated on a short period making it more detailed. ...read more.
Conclusion
On the other hand, B is vague on details in A like the moral fervour, twenty-three states dry and the men fighting which I don't think is really important as most of it is what led up to prohibition and not during it. I think B is the most useful source because it is a concentrated and detailed piece of writing, which gives you information during prohibition and what prohibition led to "In 1919 the amendment was passed...1928 there were more than 30,000 speakeasies". Source A is too vague because it is over a long period and only mention one important detail which was the Anti-Saloon League and did not mention the important details. Again they do not disagree with each other, just do not mention things. ...read more.
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