Do you think the government should try to regulate the moral behavior of its citizens?

The movement to ban alcohol had been building throughout the late 1800’s

With the passage of the 18th Amendment, alcohol was now illegal in the United States

In an effort to help enforce the amendment, Congress passed the National Prohibition Act

It was now the job of the US Treasury dept to enforce prohibition

Why? Treasury Dept already had

agents to enforce federal taxes The 18th Amendment now gave

the power to the federal government to use police powers› A governments power to control

people and property in the interest of public safety, health, welfare, and morals

The Treasury Dept had a tough time enforcing Prohibtion

During the 1920’s the Treasury Dept. made more than 540,000 arrests

People blatantly ignored the law

Bootleggers - smuggled alcohol from surrounding countries

Bath Tub Gin-People built their own stills to distill liquor

Drinks would often need to be mixed to remove the horrible taste and were even possibly lethal

Liquor was also shipped in from Canada and the Caribbean

Whiskey could be obtained by prescription from medical doctors.

The labels clearly warned that it was strictly for medicinal purposes and any other uses were illegal, but even so doctors freely wrote prescriptions and drug-stores filled them without question, so the number of "patients" increased dramatically.

No attempt was made to stop this practice, so many people got their booze this way.

Over a million gallons were consumed per year through freely given prescriptions..

Speakeasies (hidden saloons, nightclubs) become fashionable

Speakeasies were formed in the 1920's as a means to get around the everyday hassle of law enforcement watching for people to violate the 18th Amendment.

As a result of Prohibition, the speakeasy was an established institution. For every legitimate saloon that closed as a result of the new law, a half dozen underground palaces sprung up.

These speakeasies were one of the many ways that people during the 1920's and early 1930's obtained illegal alcohol.

By the middle of the decade there were thought to be 100,000 speakeasies in New York City alone.

Prohibition contributed to organized crime in major cities

Specialized in supplying and running speakeasies- Wanted to make money off illegal liquor

Underground gangs battled for control of the booze racket

Smuggling and the consumption of alcohol became a billion dollar industry for gangsters

1923 – Al Capone emerged as leader of organized crime

Had many police officers, judges, and other political officials on his payroll

Controlled Chicago liquor business by killing competitors

Capone and his gang became known as “the Untouchables”

Prohibition failed because the policy was pretty much unenforceable

Only 5% of smuggled liquor was actually stopped from coming into the country

Gangs overpowered or bribed authority figures

Instead of lowering the crime rate prohibition actually lead to an increase in crime.

• Large amounts of money could be made from illegal bootlegging.

The 21st Amendment ended prohibition in 1933

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should be legalized?

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should continue to be banned?

You will need to provide at least 5 valid points and explain how each one supports your claim.

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should be legalized?

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should continue to be banned?

You will need to provide at least 5 valid points and explain how each one supports your claim.

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should be legalized?

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should continue to be banned?

You will need to provide at least 5 valid points and explain how each one supports your claim.

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should be legalized?

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should continue to be banned?

You will need to provide at least 5 valid points and explain how each one supports your claim.

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should be legalized?

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should continue to be banned?

You will need to provide at least 5 valid points and explain how each one supports your claim.

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should be legalized?

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should continue to be banned?

You will need to provide at least 5 valid points and explain how each one supports your claim.

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should be legalized?

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should continue to be banned?

You will need to provide at least 5 valid points and explain how each one supports your claim.

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should be legalized?

What information would you use to support the view that marijuana should continue to be banned?

You will need to provide at least 5 valid points and explain how each one supports your claim.