Prohibition and the War on Drugs - 904 Words

Throughout history, campaigns against certain parts of life are frequently argued upon. Wars are in a state of flux, but a constant in Americas policies is the Drug War. The government attempts to prevent the consumption of illicit and harmful substances, even shown in modern domestic policies. Yet with much effort, positive results was not usually yielded. Apart from the outcomes, prohibition has made a large impact on daily life. In the United States, prohibition of alcohol and opium was a visible and controversial debate. The prohibition of alcohol and criminalization of opium were very different but still had some similarities such as the events that happened, its immediate reaction, and the lasting significance.†¦show more content†¦Illicit production spread, despite many efforts for enforcement. To enforce prohibition, the Volstead Act was enacted in 1917 to carry out the 18th Amendment which ratified and became in effect in 1919. The 18th Amendment prohibited the ma nufacture, sale, and distribution of alcohol; however, it did not criminalize consumption. This allowed a black market of alcohol to thrive. There was no measurable gains from prohibition, as it removed much of the tax revenue, created organized crime, and led more people to purchase drugs such as opium as substitutes. All in all, prohibition did not achieve the goal to improve America, but instead added more problems that it was intended to prevent. This led to its repeal in 1933 by the 21st Amendment. Moreover, another dangerous substance that is consumer is opium. Opium is an addictive drug that is taken from a poppy plant. At first, this drug is used as a narcotic in medicine as an anesthetic as the dangers associated with it are outweighed from the medicinal properties. The prohibition of opium originated from foreign disputes. Professor David F. Musto wrote that â€Å"Americans had quickly associated smoking opium with Chinese immigrants who arrive after the Civil W ar to work on railroad construction. This association was of the earliest examples of a powerful theme in American perception ofShow MoreRelated Prohibition Vs War on drugs Essay2724 Words   |  11 PagesAmerica ©Ã‹â€ s war on drugs today is very similar to America ©Ã‹â€ s Prohibition of Alcohol in the 1920 ©Ã‹â€ s. These two major issues of their time may not seem like they can be logically compared, but statistics for usage and a correlating rise in crime for both eras show a strong relationship. There is also a tendency for an outright defiance of the laws and law makers of the United States government in both cases. Most people today think that the prohibition of the 1920 ©Ã‹â€ s and the current war on drugs haveRead MoreEssay about Prohibition vs War on Drugs2770 Words   |  12 PagesAmerica ©Ã‚ˆs war on drugs today is very similar to America ©Ã‚ˆs Prohibition of Alcohol in the 1920 ©Ã‚ˆs. These two major issues of their time may not seem like they can be logically compared, but statistics for usage and a correlating rise in crime for both eras show a strong relationship. There is also a tendency for an outright defiance of the laws and law makers of the United States government in both cases. Most people today think that the prohibition of the 1920 ©Ã‚ˆs and the current war on drugsRead MoreProhibition Of Drugs And Alcohol1492 Words   |  6 PagesPopular belief holds that consumption of drugs and alcohol encourages violence and that the appropriate response is prohibition of these goods. 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Criminalizing alcohol did not work in the 1920s andRead MoreThe War On Drugs And Its Effects On Society1564 Words   |  7 Pages The War on Drugs is a deep-rooted controversial campaign of prohibition and military aid that has been disputed for many years. There are constant debates as to whether there will ever be a viable solution to the problem. However, as we continue to pursue the â€Å"war on drugs,† it has become increasingly evident that â€Å"winning† the war seems to be an impossible task. Drug prohibition and the undertaking of the war on drugs have stirred much controversy over its moral and logical implications. WhileRead MoreLaw Enforcement : The United States Essay1595 Words   |  7 Pagesharming other people (Christ). This was the model that we based our western law enforcement agencies on, until prohibition became a federal task in the 1920’s. T his is when the federal government decided to take up the task of protecting people from themselves. Fast forward to the 1960’s; President Richard Nixon took a step forward with prohibition by declaring a war on drugs. This perpetual war has consumed much of our country’s financial resources and profoundly affected our criminal justice systemRead More The War on Drugs is Failing Essay1228 Words   |  5 PagesThe War on Drugs is Failing â€Å"Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance†¦ for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation and make a crime out of things that are not a crime. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principle upon which our government was founded† Abraham Lincoln On January 16, 1920 the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified by thirty-six states and became part of the Constitution. The intentionRead MoreMarijuana must Be Legalized941 Words   |  4 PagesWhen you think of prohibition, one typically thinks of the roaring twenties. This was when the government prohibited the sale of alcohol. Looking back through history, we see trends from then happening today with the prohibition of marijuana and other drugs. Many people have many opinions if marijuana should be legalized or not. It’s not as easy as just looking at the pros and cons. Our government needs to determine if the prohibition of drugs is actually promoting greater health, safety, andRead MoreEssay Why All Drugs Should Be Legalized 1468 Words   |  6 Pages Abraham Lincoln once said: â€Å"Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a mans appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.†(Lincoln) When most people think of prohibition, they think of the 18th amendment of the constitution; the alcoholRead MoreEssay on The War On Drugs1079 Words   |  5 PagesIn recent years the so-called â€Å"war on drugs† has taken over the streets and back alleys of suburban America. It has caused a problem that mirrors the prohibition days of the 1920’s and early 30’s. Politicians trying to play â€Å"tough guy,† are only contributing to more violence. Their laws have created an underground drug-trade, in which modern drug-dealers have taken the place of th e bootleggers of old. The real question is whether or not this â€Å"war† is working. Most people would like to believe that