Summary: Ratified in 1919, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution banned “intoxicating liquors.” The manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages was outlawed nationwide from 1920 to 1933 – a period known as Prohibition. How did advocates of prohibition convince voters to enshrine a ban on alcohol in the Constitution? Begin the lesson with the video Prohibition and Repeal from the Constitution Explained series developed by the Center for Civic education. Discuss the question at the end of the video regarding the application of prohibition and repeal today. Then have students examine the primary source provided by Digital Inquiry Group to answer the question: What were arguments for and against prohibition?
Overarching Questions:
- CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the common good, including the need to maintain order, safety and a healthy environment, during this time period?
- CIVICS: Have individuals and groups influenced public policy during this time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
- ECONOMICS: What is the proper role of government in the economy? (Especially with regard to economic crises, national defense/security, health and safety of the people, and economic development and practices.)
NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:
- 6.1.12.HistoryCC.8.b: Relate government policies to the prosperity of the country during the 1920s and determine the impact of these policies on business and the consumer.
Link to Lesson: Prohibition | Digital Inquiry Group
Supplemental Link: Prohibition and Repeal (youtube.com)