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Answer Key: A Toast to the Constitution: The Eighteenth Amendment and Prohibition

Name of Primary Source Summarize What I Am Seeing/Reading? For Or Against Prohibition? Why?
 

 

 

The Nation’s Foe

 

 

 

 Alcohol is sinful, detrimental to families, and needs to be removed from society.  

 

For Prohibition. The pamphlet argues that alcohol is harmful to both he who drinks it and also his family.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Woman’s Holy

War

 

 

 

 

 Women are riding horses and carrying weapons. They are smashing barrels of various types of alcohol while riding under the banners of “Temperance League” and “In the Name of God and Humanity.”  

For Prohibition. The women are depicted as “holy” and destroying an evil substance.

 

 

 
 

 

 

The Unhappy Couple

 

 

 

 A man labeled as “the public” agrees to marry a woman named “Prohibition” in 1918 when he is focused on reading war news. Seven years later the woman is abusing him and stating that he can’t get out of their “marriage.”

Against Prohibition. The cartoon implies Prohibition was passed when Americans were distracted by WWI, and now they realize how tyrannical and oppressive it truly is.

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Who Are the Real Supporters of Prohibition?

 

 

 

 

 Prohibition has led to corruption, tyranny, and illegal profiteering.  

 

 

Against Prohibition. The pamphlet argues that those who participate in illegal activities associated with the outlawing of alcohol are the ones who support it the most.

 

 

 

Comprehension Questions:

  1. What was the early history of the temperance movement? The U.S. temperance movement began in the early 19th century. Women and religious groups were especially involved in supporting both voluntary and coerced temperance.
  2. What vices did supporters of the temperance movement argue alcohol caused? They argued that alcohol had multiple social ills. They said it caused spiritual harm and was detrimental to family life.
  3. What year did the Eighteenth Amendment go into effect? How was it repealed, and in what year? The Eighteenth Amendment went into effect in 1920. It was repealed through the Twenty-First Amendment
  4. What vices did opponents of the temperance movement argue Prohibition caused? They argued that outlawing alcohol created a black market for it, leading to an increase in criminal violence. They also argued that Prohibition was tyrannical and allowed government officials to oppress American liberties.

Analysis Questions:

  1. Which side of the Prohibition debate do you think made a better argument? Why? Answers may vary. Students should back up their answers with details and facts.
  2. Do you think the federal government should be involved in legislating on moral questions and public health issues? What do you think are some benefits and drawbacks of it doing so? Answers may vary. Students can argue that the federal government has a responsibility to legislate on moral/public health issues. Others can argue that it would be unconstitutional for it to do so.
  3. Some compare Prohibition’s ban on alcohol sales and production to current laws against the possession of marijuana. Do you think this is a valid comparison? Why or why not? Answers may vary. Students can argue that marijuana is a more harmful substance than alcohol, and that has never been ingrained in American society like spirits. Others can argue that there is no difference, and that the ban on marijuana has fueled drug violence, similar to what occurred during Prohibition.