Essay, Research Paper: Prohibition 4

On June 16, 1920, the Volstead Act was passed. The Volstead Act controlled the sale, production, and drinking of an alcoholic beverage containing more than 0.5 percent alcohol.
The prohibition act was set up because the crime rate was very high. Many people blamed alcohol for the problems. With the prohibition act in place, many thought that it would lower crime. Supporters of prohibition believed that it would also lower poverty and death rates and reduce the number of rats in the streets. They also believed that it would raise the economy and the quality of life. In all actuality, prohibition caused more problems that it solved.
The law proved to be unenforceable. There was the creation of bootleggers. Bootleggers made there own alcohol and sold it. With the creation of bootleggers there was also the creation of the black market and organized crime. Organized crime groups would open their own saloons and sell the homemade alcohol. During the prohibition time period there were many deaths from alcohol poisoning. This was because the alcohol that was made was very potent.
Prohibition actually raised the crime rate, death rate, poverty, and destroyed society.
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