Prohibition And The Temperance Movement

As if becoming the decade of the worst economic bust in history, usually referred to as the Great Depression, was not enough, the early 19th century also came to be known as the age of Prohibition. For many years prior to the 1920s, a growing number of people had feared the damage alcohol could do to America. After years of work by organizations such as the Anti-Saloon League, the Eighteenth Amendment was passed and prohibition started on January 16, 1919 and continued until December 5, 1933. Although it was formed to stop drinking completely, it ended up being a resounding failure. It created a large number of bootleggers who were able to supply the public with illegal alcohol.

How important is Prohibition to “The Great Gatsby”? F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece “The Great Gatsby” is a famous novel read by almost every American. The book’s setting is in the 1920’s and during that time period, prohibition played a major part in the society. In fact, prohibition caused the richness and greatness of Jay Gatsby, the novel’s main character. A lot of money is made by producing and selling illegal liquor and Jay Gatsby was one of those so called bootleggers.

People wanted him out of the church. During the Witch Trials, Parris’ teachings also revolved more around Satan and a person’s sinful ways. Lastly, the final effect of the Salem Witch Trials was that it affected many individuals personally. Reverend Parris’ reputation became so horrible, they voted him out of the church. Then, John Procter was convicted of witchcraft and hung.

The Roaring Twenties come to portray America during the time of Prohibition. In the 1920’s, where the book takes place, World War I had just come to a close. Many people swarmed toward the big cities from their small towns. They viewed the cities as an opportunity to search for a more modern way of living. Alcohol fluctuated in many new American homes and drunks occupied prisons and poorhouses.

The Massacres and riots commenced, some due to princes or kings reforming to other religions which their subjects had to also reform to. Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre resulted in the killing of 20,000 Huguenots who were French Calvinists. The Peace of Augsburg only temporarily calmed the storm in Germany over Lutheranism but it later caused the Thirty Years War in 17th century which had four phases that more or less religiously destroyed Europe and turned the religion conflict into one of political

Most states relied on alcohol excise taxes for their budgets. Prohibition cost the federal government $11 million in lost tax revenue. And 300 million to enforce prohibition. State leaders even were going against the law, they had a hidden bar for when they get thoursty or meeting or with family. Prohibition caused a lot of problems with state and federal.

By going against what the Puritan leaders in the church believed, she was also going against the “fathers of the common wealth” (253). Tobin continues to explain how Hutchinson went against the normal standards of woman in her time era by standing up against her male leaders and voicing her views. Hutchinson defended herself in such an orderly manner, as she quoted biblical verses in which she indirectly indicated examples of sexism (255). At the point of Anne Hutchinson’s trial the Puritan churches’ main focus in attempting to excommunicate her was to use religion and the laws bound by God to win their case. The Puritan group leaders used metaphors to further justify their argument, such as comparing God to be the father to the select leaders of the church, who then must act as a father to the public (237).

The level of influence a time period has on a country is defined by its political, economic, and social change. The 1920s was one of the most influential decades in the history of the United States. Corrupt politicians, tax cuts for the rich and new opportunities for women signify the influence of the Roaring 20s. A government's ability to conduct a democracy determines its ability to thrive. Due to corruption in the government, the 1920s was the most influential decade, politically speaking, in U.S. history.

Edgar Allen Poe was an amazing writer whose life ended much sooner than expected on October 7, 1849. His cause of death is an unknown and very controversial topic. Some say that he died of alcohol poisoning, while others believe that he died due to a case of rabies. Some think that on his journey to the North he had a large amount of an alcoholic beverage which lead him to die before he could reach his destination. According to Burton R. Pollin and Robert E. Benedetto, two professors from CUNY and the University of South Carolina, “ Evidence of Poe’s chronic binges is strewn through his letters in periodic admissions of ‘recoveries’ and promises to ….

A ton of people went against abortions because they saw that since most of the decline in birth rates were from women that had Northern European backgrounds and believe that it was the destruction of the race. This made people want more white, U.S.-born women to reproduce. The American Medical Association (AMA) pushed for state laws to restrict abortions, and most did in 1880. After this law, people created things that women could choose as an option instead of abortion. Some of these choices include types of birth control which started around the 1950’s, adoption, or raising the child as a co-parent or single parent.