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Prohibtion

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Prohibtion
Larria Russell
4/24/13
APUSH
Prohibition DBQ
P.6/7
America suffered a huge alcohol problem in the 1920s. The use of alcohol swept the nation but eventually got out of hand. Most Americans were unable to drink responsibly which lead to the start of prohibition. On December 17, 1917 the 18th amendment was passed putting on the sell and manufacturing of alcohol. This had America outraged. In turn people did whatever they had to, to get their alcohol again. The crime rate all over America rose dramatically. Prohibition was horrible on the American economy. Lastly, because of the great corruption in government there was a difficulty. Prohibition was passed for so many reasons, but these being the three main reasons America changed its mind about it.

Prohibition was one of the reasons America fell into such a deep depression. (doc.a) The illegal selling of alcohol began known as bootlegging or the person selling it being a bootlegger. The amount of gangsters, racketeers, and dope sellers became huge for the simply fact that everyone wanted control of the liquor. Gangs were assembled and gang violence ran ramped. Fights between rival gangs emerged everywhere because bootleggers and gangsters were the only providers of liquor. The homicide rate in many cities took a dramatic drop. (doc.b) The federal prisons were now over flowing with inmates and criminals, there had been a dramatic increase.

On top of prohibition, the economy was already bsdly suffering. Because of the recent over flow in federal prisons with inmates the government had to fund more money to assist the new inmates. An increase in crime also means an increase in police force. The government also had to hire more policemen because of all the crime. Many jobs were lost because of prohibition. Workers had to find new jobs or sell illegal alcohol to make their money. Before prosperity can return in this country the budgets of local and national government must be balanced. (doc.e) In this

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