Should The 18th Amendment Be Abolished Dbq Essay

The 1920s were a time of innovation and progress, and American society was changing. 1919 brought the ratification of the 18th amendment, also known as the Prohibition. According to Dictionary.com, the term “Prohibition” means to forbid (an action, activity, etc.) by authority or law. Although many thought that the Prohibition of alcohol would be a remedy for society, it ultimately caused more problems than it solved. From increased homicide rates to bootlegging and illegal smuggling, the Prohibition, also known as the Volstead Act, caused major issues for the American government. The 18th Amendment was repealed due to its negative effects on American society. In many people, the act of having their rights revoked may cause them to lash out. With the ratification of the 18th Amendment, it became illegal to sell, manufacture, and consume alcohol. Around the same time, it was reported that the number of
With the rise of Prohibition, the United States government lost more than enough money to pay for the National debt and then have $200,000,000 to use elsewhere. Initially this was no problem, but by the time that the government officials figured out that even though the manufacturing and selling of alcohol was illegal, an underground market had sprung up, causing the government to lose tax money (Doc E). Losing this tax was another reason that the United States decided to repeal the 18th Amendment. Losing money, government scandal, and an increased homicide rate are all negative outcomes of the Prohibition. Finally, after 14 years of this new law, the U.S. government decided, for the first time in history, to repeal an Amendment. On December 5th, 1933, the 21st Amendment was ratified, which officially repealed the 18th Amendment and allowed for the alcohol trade to start up again. This finally lead to an end to one of the most destructive laws in American