Idea of Progress: the prohibition, for the better or for the worse?

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But despite those threats, a lot of cops didn’t act and some of them were corrupt, they helped the transport of booze for exemple in exchanges of some bribe.

So the criminals weren't arrested and even for those who were, they had to wait during months before they get their judgment and so the judicial system was non functional.

The Prohibition also brought health issues, because people where making their own booze, in their bath, but this production was unhealthy and could cause death.

- The prohibition for better

The objectives of the Prohibition were to improve the economic situation of the country but also the living conditions of the population. Indeed a goal of this law was to gain productivity from the workers in factory, because before the prohibition some of them were going to work totally drunk.

The objectif of the law was also to struggle against family crisis and violence. So during the Prohibition era, the FBI was created to go in each state, and work against the alcohol sellers.

But the major progress was the participation of the women in the political life of the United States, they could participate in political debates by being in the WTCU (women’s christen temperance union). Indeed the WTCU leader Carrie A Nation used agressive methods as « barrage the customers » and destroy bottles, but she became one of the most influent person in the prohibition political party created in 1869. While it was impossible to women to be in political parties before.

Plus, women were also mix with men in the « speakeasies », and it was a real progress on social aspect. In fact, this progress was even followed by the women right to vote, with the 19th amendment.

Conclusion

To conclude, I’d say that progress is neither all good or all bad as we can see with the Prohibition.

In November 1933 : in a referendum : 74% of the population said that they were against the population and so it was officially repeal few months later because of the negative effects of the application of the law.

However, the prohibition allowed great progress in terms of women rights for exemple.