From 1920 to 1933, Alcohol was illegal in the US. The purpose for this legalization was to decrease alcohol abuse in the US. The dry movement was according to Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which is known as the Volstead Act. This movement made a lot of controversy. People at first accepted it because at this time the First World War was on, and everyone was looking for a way to feel safer. However, the prohibition didn’t work efficiently. The police weren't so serious about the punishment. There was 30,000 to 100,000 bars in New York City only. Furthermore, the crime rate increased, because this time was enough to create many gangsters who sell drugs in the US. Also, the black market was invented at this time as a way to sell alcohol. The most serious crime that happened during this time and made the government think about their 18th Amendment was Saint Valentine's Day Massacre. In 1933, the government changed their mind and legalized the alcohol under pressure from media and citizens.
Interesting Statistics that I found during my research:
1- The government paid 65 million for preventing alcohol advertisements.
2- 900 million pages in the news were filled with advertisements
that prevent alcohol.
3- Preventing alcohol coasted the US government around 1 billion
and a half million dollar.
4- 500 000 people went to the jail when this law started because
they didn’t follow it.
5- 200 people died as punishment for drinking when this law
started.
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