Ex-03: Explain why the USA introduced the Volstead Act in 1919 (12 marks).

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Ex-03: Explain why the USA introduced the Volstead Act in 1919 (12 marks).

Causes

  • the temperance movement had strong roots in the mid-nineteenth century
  • Anti Saloon League
  • prohibition was supported by big business and industrialists
  • America’s entry into WW1 intensified the pressure for prohibition
  • Prohibition was becoming a reality

Effects

  • the temperance movement was based on a strong belief in the social and moral evils of drink and its bad effects on health and family life. It was strongest in rural areas among Protestant religious groups and women activists
  • prohibition started in rural and small town America as a crusade against liquor to try to avoid the misery, poverty & violence it was believed to bring. The support from prohibition increased with the foundation of two very effective campaigning groups; The Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League. Mainly middle class, protestant church going Americans who were critical of big crime ridden cities like New York. Its leader, Wayne Wheeler, drafted the Prohibition legislation
  • Some industrialists such as Rockefeller supported prohibition (and gave Anti- Saloon League money) he believed it make his workforces more reliable and harder working. Some Politicians saw a chance to gain the rural vote.
  • alcohol was made by German brewers; a ban on alcohol would conserve supplies of important grains; Bolshevism was fuelled by drink; it was wrong for Americans to enjoy a drink while young men were dying on the battlefield
  • after the 18th Amendment to the constitution by 1918 75% of the states had voted to become ‘dry’.

Overall summary

The power to ban the production, export, import, transportation or sale of alcoholic beverages was given by the 18th amendment to the constitution in 1917. It was gradually adopted across America and Volstead Act was introduced nationally in 1919. Volstead Act was the result of a very long process but the impact of America’s involvement in the First World War was to greatly intensify the campaign for Prohibition.

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