The years leading into the 1920’s and the prohibition movement were marked with saloons, drunkenness, and a society of increasing alcohol consumption. America’s changing social habits brought on the passage of the Eighteenth amendment in 1919, placing a nation-wide ban on intoxicating liquors. This amendment was to prevent the production, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages. As the new law was established, the problem of enforcing Americans to obey the law was a great task as bootleggers illegally continued to traffic alcohol. Throughout the temperance movement, numerous leaders came forth on both sides of the war against and for prohibition. The fight for prohibition and the reasoning behind it was not worth the costs it seemed to carry along. The repeal of the 18th amendment was certainly the right choice for America after attempting to be a sober country caused more turmoil than before and divided the country during the 1920’s. Americans fighting for their countries’ sobriety had many arguments to back their desires of a changed lifestyle. Alcohol was drawing Americans into saloons, which was a place to drink, gamble, and it promoted prostitution. The number of saloons was growing rapidly, and “in many cities, saloons occupied at least two and sometimes all four corners at the intersection of important streets” (Johnsen 73). These were corrupting the country and were thought to be very disrespectful places. The prohibitionists started the Anti-Saloon League because of their large dislike for saloons and the immoral behavior that takes place there. They lead the fight against alcohol and were a large factor in passing the 18th amendment. Women especially wanted to ban alcohol because their husbands were going to the saloons and spending their money on beer and prostitutes. Prohibitionists believed that wealth and social success went hand in hand with greed and selfishness. For exam...
