Prohibition

Prohibition was started in the United States with hope that it would lower crime and corruption, reduce social problems, and improve health and hygiene in America. Instead it backfired on the government causing crime rates to sky rocket, over populating prisons. It began on January 16th 1920 when the 18th amendment went into effect. Even though alcohol was banned, many people still consumed it in “speakeasies” or other underground private bars. Since alcohol could not be legally brought into America many people smuggled it in from Canada. The people who smuggled the alcohol to the United States became known as bootleggers. Even though it was illegal, doctors could prescribe alcohol to patients making it legal. Just like how in today’s world people can legally smoke marijuana if they have a medical prescription from a doctor. Over a million gallons of alcohol was consumed legally through freely given prescriptions. Even the national government had their own bootlegged liquor in their possession. Buying the alcohol illegally would mean buying it from the gangsters who ran the bootlegging business, putting money in the gangster’s pockets, instead of back into the economy. When Franklin D Roosevelt ran for president in 1932 he promised to abolish the 18th amendment with the 21st amendment. Making the consumption of alcohol legal again.

Sources:
http://www.1920-30.com/prohibition/