Essay about Us History

Submitted By brooklynstephan
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Social Issues
Prohibition -
Prohibition was a period of nearly fourteen years of U.S. history in which the manufacture, transportation, and sale of liquor was made illegal. After the American Revolution, drinking was very popular. To battle this, a number of societies were organized as part of a new temperance movement which attempted to advise against people from becoming intoxicated. At first, these organizations pushed composure but after several decades, the movement's focus changed to complete prohibition of alcohol. The temperance movement blamed alcohol for many of society's ills, especially crime and murder. In the beginning of the 20th century, there were temperance organizations in nearly every state. In 1919, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited the sale and manufacture of alcohol. Though it was the 18th Amendment that established Prohibition, it was the Volstead Act that made the law.The act also stated that owning any item made to manufacture alcohol was illegal and it set specific jail sentences and fines for violating Prohibition. People still found ways to drink. The Volstead Act allowed people to have alcohol if it was prescribed by a doctor .So during that time, large numbers of new prescriptions were written for alcohol. Gangsters often found other ways to get alcohol illegally if they didn't buy cases of alcohol in advance or know a “good” doctor. Also some people owned private bars and sold alcohol that was smuggled in from canada. The grape growing industry what produced many wines located in california was forced to close. Same for many other businesses. Prohibition went on for 13 years. In 1933, prohibition finally ended because of the 21st amendment.

Ray Stannard Baker - Ray Stannard Baker was an American journalist and author born in Lansing, Michigan. He wrote for McClure's, a pioneer muckraking magazine. He wrote a series of exposes on pressing social issues. He became famous because of his McClure’s articles. His belief in social reform led to a close personal and professional relationship with Woodrow Wilson., and eventually published 15 volumes about Wilson and internationalism, including an 8-volume biography, the last two volumes of which won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1940.

Jacob Riis -
Jacob Riis was a social reformer, muckraking journalist and social documentary photographer. He tried describing how unsanitized new york city became. But then he started taking pictures of the tenements and the dirty parts of new york city. He then later wrote a book “How the other half lives” including his pictures and describing the most dangerous part of new york city.

Lawrence Veiller - Lawrence Veiller was a Progressive social worker in New York City. He is most famous for organizing the Tenement House Exhibition of 1900 to make people aware of the abhorrent living conditions of the poor, hoping to effect change. The exhibit was held in a building on 5th Avenue and made many people and politicians aware of what was happening. He is now credited for the New York Tenement House Act of 1901.

• How did Political Machines influence the Progressive Movement?

Political Machines influenced the Progressive Movement by bribery and patronage to maintain an anti-democratic atmosphere in cities across America. • How did the Populist Movement influence the Progressive movement?

The Populist Movement influenced the Progressive movement because the Populist focused on reforming the political process as a whole, instead of focusing on the economic system.

• How did Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson assist the Progressive Movement?

Roosevelt was a master of populist rhetoric. He attempted to strike a balance between employers and employees in labor conflicts and wanted to give Americans a "Square Deal.” Taft supported Roosevelt's "Square Deal.” Wilson was a leading Progressive, he wanted a stronger central government and he fought for anti-trust
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