Small-town life and city life differed in the 1920's. Both city life and small-town life had different views on drinking, causal dating, and gambling. In the city people were tolerant of such behaviors, while in small towns people thought such behaviors were sinful. Also, in small town people would have intimate relationships with their neighbors; in small towns there were few strangers. In the city however, the streets were full of strangers. Finally, unlike the slow unchanging small towns, the city was all about competition and change. While in a small town people's background would be discussed; in a city the new scientific and social theories would be discussed.
2. Why do you think the Eighteenth Amendment failed to eliminate alcohol consumption?
The Eighteenth Amendment failed to eliminate alcohol consumption because, the government failed to sufficiently fund an enforcing agency, after World War I people were tired of giving up luxuries and the many immigrants did not believe that drinking was a sin. The government made the Prohibition Bureau in the Treasury Department in 1919. Unfortunately the agency did not have enough workers, and the agency was underfunded- a recipe for disaster. Also, after World War I people were not longer willing to give up alcohol, they wanted "to enjoy life". Finally immigrants didn't believe drinking to be a sin. The immigrants believe that drinking was a part of socializing, and so they influenced the U.S culture to be more tolerant of drinking.
3. How did criminals take advantage of Prohibition?
Criminals took advantage of Prohibition through selling illegal alcohol. Criminals could make fortunes off of illegal alcohol. Al Capone was said to have made $100 million off of illegal whiskey! The public was willing to pay a higher price for alcohol because of prohibition, and so criminals made fortunes.
4. What was the conflict between fundamentalists and those who accepted evolution?
Fundamentalists and those who accepted evolution differed on their believes of how all life forms were created. Fundamentalists believed that God created all life forms in six days. Those who accepted evolution believed that all life forms have changed and evolved into what they are today over the course of millions of years.
5. How might the overall atmosphere of the 1920s have contributed to the failure of Prohibition?
In the 1920's people were becoming more tolerant of drinking, and people were not longer willing to give up their luxuries. Life was good why not enjoy it? All of these factors contributed to the failure of Prohibition. People were more tolerant of drinking in the cities, and because most of the U.S's population lived in cities it became more socially acceptable to drink. Also, After World War I people were not willing to give up their alcohol. People were tired of giving up their luxury food, in World War I there was a food ration, and now even when the war was over they were stilled forced to give up food. The atmosphere of the 1920's was sure to make the Prohibition fail.
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