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The culture of the 1920’s

The culture of the 1920’s. Prohibition preview. New urban lifestyle. City offered many things: Nightclubs, theaters, sporting events, movies Many of these activities involved drinking, dating, and gambling.

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The culture of the 1920’s

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  1. The culture of the 1920’s

  2. Prohibition preview

  3. New urban lifestyle • City offered many things: • Nightclubs, theaters, sporting events, movies • Many of these activities involved drinking, dating, and gambling. • Values went out the window with people making money, doing business, and mingling of cultures. • Clash between rural and urban values

  4. Causes of Prohibition Religious groups believed drinking alcohol was sinful. Anti-immigrant attitude. Women’s Christian Temperance Union: considered drinking a sin.

  5. Causes of Prohibition Reformers believed government should protect health and that alcohol led to crime, abuse, accidents and social issue. Values and morals threatened

  6. On the other side… • Many groups do not consider drinking wrong and see it as social. • Americans wanted to enjoy life, tired of making sacrifices during WWI. • Constitutional?

  7. Prohibition Era Begins 18th Amendment that prohibited the sale, manufacture or transportation of alcoholic beverages. Passed in January 1920, it was an attempt by the government to keep to “normalcy.”

  8. Volstead Act • Government created agency to enforce Prohibition • Patrolling 18,000 miles of coastline • Monitored transportation of alcohol • Overseeing alcohol manufacturers • Not enough money or manpower to enforce prohibition • Impossible task!

  9. Effects of Prohibition • Hardware stores sell: • Books and magazines explaining liquor distilling • Medical and religious exemptions • Disrespect for the law • Bribed police/judges to operate

  10. Effects of Prohibition • Lawlessness grows among citizens. • Bootlegger: named for the way liquor was carried in boots • Speakeasies: Underground hidden saloons and nightclubs. Comesfrom the idea of speaking softly to avoid detection • Needed passwords to enter • Prohibition becomes a joke!!

  11. Effects of Prohibition • Growth of Organized Crime: gangs seized opportunity to illegally make and sell liquor to MAKE MONEY. • Criminals get high income • Al Capone • Chicago gangster • Made $60 million/year • Took over control by killing off his competition

  12. Prohibition Ends Only 19% of American supported it. Remained in effect until 1933. 21st Amendment passed, which repealed the 18th Amendment.

  13. Learning from Prohibition Considered an experiment that went terribly wrong. Law passed by people who they themselves did not follow it. Causes of Prohibition do not match the effects wanted by reformers and religious groups.

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