What was Prohibition?

Was it part of a nativist campaign by Protestant America to control the immigrant city?

Scientific Essay , 2007 , 10 Pages , Grade: 2

American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography

The 19th century was a period of great change in the United States of America. Industrialization had changed the country’s economy, and urbanization and immigration were significantly reshaping American society. People were then faced with the negative consequences of progress: Crime, prostitution and gambling flourished in the new climate of anonymity of the cities, poverty increased and sexual immorality became more of a problem. In this situation the importance of religion, morals and education increased, and as a consequence a strong counter movement developed in order to put an end to the moral decline that took place in American society. This may be the reason why the temperance movement that had existed in the United States since its very beginnings, suddenly augmented into the call for nationwide prohibition. In this essay, I want to outline the background of that movement followed by its development in the course of time. The most important factors when dealing with prohibition will be to investigate the forces behind the campaign as well as their motivation. I will then continue by describing the notion of nativism and point out its connection to the movement for a dry America. This way I want to show that, although the motives of prohibition were various, nativist propaganda against immigrants did play a major part in the success of the movement among white protestant middle class.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• The Origins of the Movement
• The Development of Prohibition
• The Enforcement of Prohibition
• The Reasons for Prohibition

Objectives and Key Themes

This essay aims to explore the rise of the temperance movement in the United States and its subsequent development into the nationwide prohibition of alcoholic beverages. It will investigate the motivations behind the movement, focusing on the role of nativist propaganda against immigrants. The essay will argue that while the reasons for supporting prohibition were diverse, nativist sentiment played a significant role in its success among the white Protestant middle class.

• The emergence of the temperance movement and its evolution into the prohibition movement.
• The role of nativist sentiment in the success of prohibition.
• The impact of social and economic changes on the development of the prohibition movement.
• The effectiveness of prohibition legislation in reducing alcohol consumption.
• The social and political consequences of prohibition.

Chapter Summaries

The introduction provides background on the social and economic context of the United States in the 19th century, highlighting the rise of crime, poverty, and immorality. This chapter explains how these problems led to the development of a strong counter-movement aimed at addressing the perceived moral decline in American society. It argues that the temperance movement, which had existed for many years, gained momentum during this period, culminating in the call for nationwide prohibition.

The second chapter examines the origins of the temperance movement, tracing its roots back to the 1840s when pietistic religions such as Methodists and Presbyterians began advocating for total abstinence from alcohol. This chapter explores the changing social patterns of the era, including increased poverty, urbanization, and anonymity, which contributed to the movement’s growth. The chapter also mentions the rise of organizations like the Abstinence Society and the Sons of Temperance, which aimed to limit alcohol consumption.

The third chapter details the development of prohibition in the United States, beginning with the passage of prohibition laws in Kansas in 1881 and their subsequent adoption by other states. The chapter analyzes the limitations of state-level prohibition laws and discusses the role of the Webb-Kenyon Act (1913) in prohibiting the transport of alcohol into dry areas. It then chronicles the passage of the 18th Amendment (1919), which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, and the Volstead Act (1920), which defined and enforced the amendment.

Keywords

This essay examines the history of prohibition in the United States, focusing on key themes like the temperance movement, nativist sentiment, social and economic changes, the effectiveness of legislation, and the consequences of prohibition. It draws on key concepts such as moral decline, social reform, and the impact of alcohol on society.

• College: University of Western Sydney
• Grade: 2
• Author: Elena Kramer (Author)
• Publication Year: 2007
• Pages: 10
• Catalog Number: V132822
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640395866
• Language: English
• Tags: What, Prohibition, Protestant, America