Why was prohibition introduced

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Gawain Williams

History Coursework

1.WHY WAS PROHIBITION INTRODUCED?

Prohibition was introduced in America because of many reasons;

Many Americans especially women and many religious groups, (e.g. Puritans, who prided themselves on being "simple and clean living folk") saw alcohol as a threat to society, Women believed they were oppressed through alcohol because their husbands (the wage earners) were spending housekeeping money on drink and coming home drunk and were more likely to act violently towards their wives and children. Women felt especially helpless because in the 1890's men and women had very traditional roles, Men went out to work and women stayed home and looked after the house and children which meant if men wasted their wages on drink the family would suffer. These circumstances led to the formation of The Women's Christian Temperance Movement (founded in 1893) which claimed

"That alcohol was the work of the Devil".

Another group (made up of both men and women) formed the Anti -Saloon League (ASL) .The Anti Saloon League was founded in 1893 and argued that

"Alcohol made workers less efficient and led to absenteeism" which is why Henry Ford (owner