Prohibition

History Coursework- Question A.

Although sources A and B do agree about prohibition to a certain extent, they are written in very different ways. After discussing the causes and outcomes of prohibition, both sources seem to believe that it led to increasing crime, as no earlier law had ever gone against the daily customs, habits and desires of so many Americans. They both agree that prohibition was seen by people as an evil, but actually, in the long run, had a moral aspect to it. Many Americans were fighting to make the world a better place, and meanwhile, to make America a more moral community.

Pressure groups were formed to ban alcohol, and played a very important part in bringing about prohibition. After they were set up, people began to develop more negative feelings towards alcohol, and their propaganda and campaigning turned out to be successful. They also tried to communicate the idea that alcohol was responsible for causing disease, poverty and domestic violence. The Anti-Saloon League also played a big part in prohibition, as saloons were believed to be a bad influence on people, as far as alcohol was concerned. The Anti-Saloon League led a nation-wide campaign, which encouraged the supporters of the League to push for an amendment to the Constitution of the USA, which turned out to be successful.

This is where the two sources begin to disagree. Source A states a number of factors, but believes the Anti-Saloon League was the most important. Source B, however, believes the pressure groups were the most important, and only explains this single factor. In contrast to this, source A also argues that prohibition was caused by the “moral fervour” inspired by World War 1. This was, to some extent, true as some members of the public began to believe that drinking during the war would make German brewers wealthier. Another difference between the two sources is the fact that source A explains why it led to increasing crime, whilst source B just hints at the...