The prohibitionists believed that the consumption of alcohol led to immorality, that alcohol increased crime, vice, abuse, prostitution, gambling and other immoral behaviours. Many people were alcoholics and died because of related disease or people’s health was in danger because of the high consumption of alcohol. There was also the addiction to drinking alcohol which was argued by the Anti-Saloon League that drinkers are “slaves of the saloon” because they are addicted.
There was also the strong support from religious groups such as Protestants. They believed consuming alcohol was “ungodly, evil and wasteful.” For example, Protestant idealists who supported prohibition founded the state of Kansas. The state became one of the first states to become “dry.” Protestants also set up big campaign movements and organisations such as the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.
Temperance movements such as the Anti-Saloon League and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union set up big campaigns and held rallies. These societies used propaganda to persuade the 70% of the population who didn’t vote, to vote for prohibition. Having acknowledged this fact, politicians realised that it was to their advantage to campaign for prohibition to win them votes. This political element made it necessary for congressmen to vote “dry.” Prohibition supporters also had a low belief in moderation of alcohol consumption and strongly urged the need for a complete ban of alcohol.
Big and powerful business and industrial leaders such as John D. Rockefeller also known as the contributor to dry causes and Henry Ford heavily supported prohibition. The rationale behind this was mainly because if their employees didn’t drink alcoholic drinks they believed they would be more productive and efficient and use their full potential. There would be the decrease in absenteeism as well. Another reason maybe that because most of their employees income goes to the purchase of alcohol, Henry Ford would oppose the sale of alcohol because he would want his employees to spend their money on buying cars from his company to increase his profit. In addition, many powerful businessmen gave financial aid, funds and support to temperance movements such as the Anti-Saloon League. This increased the number of campaigns for prohibition and further encouraged prohibition.
After defeating Germany in the First World War, there was still the existence of Anti-German feelings. Many German immigrants who came to USA worked in the brewing industry. To drink alcohol was to be seen as a German trait. Therefore the motion of prohibition was an act that expressed USA’s hostility to the Germans. Hence we can see that World War 1 was a catalyst to prohibition. In addition, grain was needed for food during the First World War however was being used in German brewing industries. Thus, there was the increasing hatred of the Germans and increasing support for prohibition. It was said at the time that, “if you vote against prohibition, it’s going against morality, patriotism and family.”
In conclusion, after looking at why prohibition was introduced in 1919, it is very clear that there was not only one reason to why the amendment was made but because of several different explanations and reasons that stretch from moral, social, economical, political, religious and even to nationalistic pride issues.
