Roaring 20s: Attempts to Preserve Traditional Values

The movement to ban alcoholic drinks, known as the Temperance Movement, began in the early 19th century. Temperance reformers saw alcoholic beverages as the root cause of poverty, crime, the break down of families, and sin. Protestant church groups and women reformers were especially active in the movement. Supported by Progressives, temperance especially appealed to small town America

Prohibition – was a constitutional amendment that prohibited the use of alcohol, led by the Temperance Movement 18th Amendment – forbade manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcohol. Volstead Act – defined “intoxicating liquors” to include both wine & beer. Provided penalties for the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages (but not for their consumption)

Gov’t hires only 1,500 agents to enforce Prohibition. Ordinary people defied the law, many making bathtub gin at home. Churches could still use wine for sacramental purposes and doctors could prescribe alcohol for medicinal reasons

Prohibition, in many ways, led to the rise of organized crime as they filled the void and supplied a product that was illegal but the public wanted. Bootleggers – make and sell illegal alcohol Speakeasies – underground bars Organized crime and gangsters such as Al Capone grow by selling illegal alcohol.

Formulated by Charles Darwin

The Power of Religion The Scopes case may dealt fundamentalism a blow, but the movement continued to thrive in the U.S. Rural people, especially in the South and Midwest, remained faithful to their churches. When large numbers of farmers migrated to cities during the 20s, they bought fundamentalism with them. The familiar religion helped them make sense of their lives.