What if the US congress in 1920 didn't make the shortsighted decision to ban the sale of alcohol by law for thirteen years, and thus alcoholic drinks were always legal and there's no Prohibition Era that lasted from 1920 to 1933? What effects might this have?
With the banning of alcohol, it's important to consider that the decision wasn't made overnight. There's a lot of context in that regard involving Temperance movements that were big at the time, the most important of which being the Anti-Saloon League (ASL). This movement was an absolute powerhouse that held influence far and wide, and over time was able to exert that influence to get the 18th Amendment passed. There's a lot to cover here, so I'll just post this video:
So the POD here is: The ASL never rises to power, and no one fills the vacuum. Thus, no Prohibition Era to define the '20s and early '30s. What changes?
Some notes:
With the banning of alcohol, it's important to consider that the decision wasn't made overnight. There's a lot of context in that regard involving Temperance movements that were big at the time, the most important of which being the Anti-Saloon League (ASL). This movement was an absolute powerhouse that held influence far and wide, and over time was able to exert that influence to get the 18th Amendment passed. There's a lot to cover here, so I'll just post this video:
So the POD here is: The ASL never rises to power, and no one fills the vacuum. Thus, no Prohibition Era to define the '20s and early '30s. What changes?
Some notes:
- No 18th Amendment banning alcohol obviously means there's no 21st Amendment that repealed it. However, the 21st Amendment simply didn't just undo the 18th, but instead expanded upon and adjusted the guidelines of alcohol consumption, and left it up to the states themselves. This meant that each state could make laws and guidelines for alcohol use. Without the Prohibition, there wouldn't be an Amendment that gives more flexibility to alcohol laws nor would there be a need to push the matter.
- The Prohibition Era was a time where criminal lords and corrupt businessmen became extremely wealthy and powerful, and this led to organized crime booming across America. One such individual was Al Capone. Without that, there's no golden window of opportunity for many crime lords' rise to power. There's no era of crime and corruption that Prohibition brought. Because of this, the histories of different cities (such as Chicago and New York) would be quite different indeed.
- An interesting tidbit: Jazz music, and bars as social clubs, wouldn't see the heights it did in our time.
- Jazz music became mainstream due to the subcultures brought about by the Speakeasy; private bars hidden from the authorities. Jazz thrived in that environment, and got true recognition in the years afterwards. Without the speakeasy culture for jazz to find its footing, it's unlikely that jazz would ever become mainstream.
- Likewise, speakeasies were more social and progressive than the largely white and male-only bars of the past, with women and minorities drinking and socializing alongside white men without issue. This was initially born out of necessity: After all, turning someone away from the speakeasy could lead to you getting ratted out, and in the slammer. And with that normalized, the era of social drinking was set in stone. Without the Prohibition, it might take a lot longer for social drinking to become a thing.
- Another new enterprise opened up: Moonshine. Homemade made liquor that was high proof and often dangerous, and remained illegal even after Prohibition. Moonshine was created once that era began, and remains a major criminal operation to this day. Without Prohibition, there's no real need for Moonshine to have been made, thus Moonshine doesn't get made and even if it did, it's highly unlikely to catch on in the same way.
- Finally, a lot of pop culture would be different without Prohibition. As mentioned, there wouldn't be a golden opportunity for organized crime that marked a definitive era for gangsters, and likewise Jazz wouldn't become so big. Remove these things, and a lot of aspects from crime stories, dramas, the musical scene, and portrayals of the Roaring '20s, will all radically change.
