The Culture Shock the Eigteenth Amendment Brought Upon the United States

The eighteenth Amendement passed in the 1920's banned the consumption of alcohol- BUMMER!! No, but really, the people of the time period were ticked to no end! All of the citizens of the U.S were itching to drink. But it was not just the act of drinking, but rather the public consumption that inticed them all. But how was this possible with the new amendment that was passed? How do underage kids get away with drinking today? Secretively, stealthily, incognito. Any way you slice it, they found a way. There way had a proper term however and that was a Speakeasy.

Imagine an underground bar with jazz music, dim lighting, a doormen to check the peep hole everytime the door was knocked on, Bourban in tea cups and coffee mugs, and drunken laughter. Believe it or not this was a speakeasy! Speakeasies of the time were rebellious! And yet, they began to shock the U.S with some rich culture. And by rich I mean criminals. Think :Al Capone, Johnny Torrio. Granted these guys were big shots in the mafia but everyday Joe-Shmo guys were criminals too! Smuggling alcohol to the U.S certainly payed the bills. It was an easy way to gain revenue in the 1920's, and therefore lead to such great crimes.

Remember the phrase from history class, "history always repeats itself" maybe ring a bell or two? Hey guess what, that is something incorrect your teacher told you! The eighteenth amendment was certainly abolished! But prohibtion has never come back to haunt the United States. But THIS is the exact reason why it left such a large impression in the 1920's. This law was outlandish! The citizens of the United States knew that, but did they know they would be apart of a major historical 'culture' later on? (Rehtorical question, no room for snooty answers) Who knows, we could be refered later on in history as the "techno-culture" I mean get real, I am being graded via blog entry, via a sent email, via internet, via a computer. Just food for thought.