Essay 3 The Prohibition

Backlash of the Prohibition

            On January 16, 1920, the United States said no alcoholic beverages were to be sold or purchased in breweries, distilleries, or saloons, and these businesses were forced to close their doors (Mintz). Drinking was a source of corruption, and an excuse for domestic violence (Mintz). Prohibition was the solution to these and other problems in America (Weiser). Many believed only beneficial outcomes would be generated from the elimination of beer from the public (Mintz). Though developed to end the consumption and negative effects of alcohol, the 1920’s prohibition created the illegal trafficing of alcoholic beverages, an ineffective government, and increased death rates.

            When the public demanded alcohol, many began finding covert ways of getting what they wanted: liquor (Levine, and Reinarmen). Organized crime grew and dominated 1920’s American society (Hoyt). Gangs of alcohol traffickers were common and gained control of the public because they could supply the public with liquor (Hoyt). As the illegal activities expanded, buildings were created to hide the alcohol consumption (hoyt). Thirty thousand speakeasies sprung up across the country while legal bars numbered around half that amount (Hoyt). Since the production was also prohibited, approximately one hundred thousand people brewed alcohol in bathtubs and handcrafted stills (Hoyt). And because the breweries were shutdown, many fashioned liquor in their homes, right underneath the detection of the authorities (Mintz). Since the alcoholic content of beer was lower than whiskey or gin, more had to be provided to speakeasies (Thornton). But Prohibition made it very difficult to transport the bulky, weaker alcohols, and stronger drinks became the choice for many Americans (Thornton). The vast amounts of smuggling and covert breweries were the United State’s worst kept secret, and when gangsters provided a business with alcoholic beverages, many authorities looked the other way (Weiser) Famous gangster Al Capone trafficked liquor frequently and made this comment on the inconsistencies between American beliefs and the law, “When I sell liquor, it’s bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on a silver tray on Lakeshore Drive, it’s hospitality” (Weiser).

Prohibition had a goal to decrease death rate and alcohol-related illness; however, it had negative effects on the health of the nation (Hoyt). Deaths caused by cirrhosis dropped significantly in the 1920’s (Hoyt). Alcoholism related fatalities decreased by eighty percent, but seven years after the ban of alcohol, total deaths from handmade liquor climbed to fifty thousand (Mintz). There were more cases of blindness, paralysis and other illnesses caused by dangerously created alcohol (Mintz). Despite what the Prohibition intended, more alcoholics and speakeasies existed by the end of the 1920’s than there were before the law was created (Hoyt). Another unintended danger fostered by the Prohibition was the introduction of harsh drugs like narcotics (Weiser). Aside from the increase in death from the liquor, homicide rates went up due to gang wars in cities (Mintz). The Prohibition also unintentionally allowed the American public to foster negativity towards the government and law enforcement (Mintz).

The credibility of the American government suffered during the 1920’s because of its lax behavior towards the public’s illegal actions (Hoyt). The closing of saloons destroyed the brewing industry and many job opportunities, which lost the government tax revenues and damaged the economy (Hoyt). During this time, political corruption skyrocketed (Hoyt). Polititians were funded by those profiting from illegal trafficking and so passed twisted government rulings (Hoyt) According to well-known tycoon John D. Rockefeller, “Drinking has generally increased, the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers has been recruited and financed on a colossal scale” (Hoyt). Crime increased in the twenties because of the lack of funding for local and federal authorities (“Finding Dulcinea”). The money that should have been given the officers went to gangsters and politicians, making it difficult to enforce laws (“Finding Dulcinea”). Implement of 1920s' Prohibition would have been a daunting enterprise, even with proper funding (Henderson). Bootleggers were plentiful, where one was stopped, three more would appear (Henderson). Prohibition did not succeed in creating an alcohol-free America (Henderson).

During the 1930’s, those originally for the elimination of alcohol in the U.S. altered their opinions, and wanted the Prohibition lifted (Hoyt). The negative effects of the ban were far-reaching and convinced Americans that the problems alcohol induced were nothing compared to the issues that arose from it’s illegality (Hoyt). While the act did inhibit the consumption of beer effectively, it increased the drinking of hard liquor (Levine, and Reinarmen).When Prohibition was abolished, President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “What America needs now is a drink”(Burkhart). His wit indicated the futility of banning alcohol, drinking was so embedded in American culture, that it could not be eradicated so easily (Burkhart).

Works Cited

Burkhart, Jeff. "Prohibition Fast Facts." Prohibition Repeal. Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, n.d. Web. 27 Oct 2010. <http://www.prohibitionrepeal.com/history/fastfacts.asp

Henderson, Paula. "1920s' PROHIBITION ." Vintage Periods. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct 2010. <http://www.vintageperiods.com/prohibition.php>.

Hoyt, Alia. "How Prohibition Worked ." How Stuff Works. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct 2010. <http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/prohibition4.htm>.

Levine, Harry, and Craig Reinarmen. "Drugtext." From Prohibition to Regulation. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct 2010. <http://www.drugtext.org/library/articles/craig102.htm>

Mintz, s. "Digital History." The Jazz Age: The 1920's. N.p., 27Oct 2010. Web. 27 Oct 2010. <http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/copyright.cfm>.

Thornton, Mark. "Cato Institute." Alcohol Prohibition Was a Failure. N.p., 17 July 1991. Web. 27 Oct 2010. <http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=1017>.

Weiser, Kathy. "Speakeasies of the Prohibition Era." Legends of America. N.p., March 2010. Web. 27 Oct 2010. <http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-prohibitionspeakeasy2.html>.

Prohibition Outline

Using the numbers off of my list of facts/research, I made myself this outline to keep ontrack:

The Effects of the 1920’s Prohibition

I.

            Introduction

                        What was prohibition?

                        Why was it put into place?

                        (info 9, 10)

                        Thesis:

II.

            Effect # 1

                        Alcohol began to be sold illegally and in dangerous mixtures

                        (info 6, 8, 12, 13, 20, 21, 26)

III.

            Effect # 2

                        The government and law enforcements took a negative turn

                        (info 1, 2, 5, 7, 27, 28)

IV.

            Effect # 3

                        The rates of death and illnesses increased dramatically

                        (info 3, 11, 14, 15, 25)

V.

            Conclusion

                        What was intended to happen

                        (info 4, 16, 22, 30)

Prohibition Research

After deciding to base my paper off of the word "Bartender", I compiled this information on the 1920's Prohibition of Alcohol:

http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/prohibition4.htm

1. Prohibition created a vast illegal market for the production, trafficking and sale of alcohol. In turn, the economy took a major hit, thanks to lost tax revenue and legal jobs.
2. Prohibition nearly ruined the country's brewing industry
3. Prohibition also produced some interesting statistics concerning the health of AmericansDeaths caused by cirrhosis of the liver in men dropped to 10.7 men per 100,000 from 29.5 men per 100,000 from 1911 to 1929 [source: Digital History].

·         Alcohol consumption during Prohibition declined between 30 and 50 percent [source: Digital History].

·         Conversely, by the end of the 1920s there were more alcoholics and illegal drinking establishments than before Prohibition [source: Encyclomedia.com].

4. people who had vocally supported Prohibition had changed their tune dramatically.     Their opinions about the evils of alcohol remained, but they had realized the effects of Prohibition to be far-reaching and perhaps worse than alcohol itself.
5. According to famous tycoon John D. Rockefeller, "Drinking has generally increased, the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers has been recruited and financed on a colossal scale" [source: Digital History].
6. G­angs of illegal alcohol traffickers, comparable to today's illegal drug rings, became common
7. Political corruption reached new levels, as those who were profiting from illegal trafficking lined the pockets of crooked politicians
8. Illegal speakeasies flourished. Prior to Prohibition, there were fewer than 15,000 legal bars in the United States. By 1927, however, more than 30,000 speakeasies were serving illegally across the country. Approximately 100,000 people brewed alcohol illegally from home [source: Digital History].

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/copyright.cfm

Mintz, S. (2007). Change this text to the title of the section. Digital History. Retrieved (insert the date your retrieved the information here without parentheses) from
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu (add the complete URL for the specific page)

9.     At midnight, January 16, 1920, the United States went dry; breweries, distilleries, and saloons were forced to close their doors.

10. Advocates of Prohibition argued that outlawing drinking would eliminate corruption, end machine politics, and help Americanize immigrants.

11. The death rate from alcoholism was cut by 80 percent by 1921 from pre-war levels, while alcohol-related crime dropped markedly. Nevertheless, seven years after Prohibition went into effect, the total deaths from adulterated liquor reached approximately 50,000, and there were many more cases of blindness and paralysis

12.  produced bootleggers, speakeasies, moonshine, bathtub gin, and rum runners smuggling supplies of alcohol across state lines.

13.  In 1927, there were an estimated 30,000 illegal speakeasies--twice the number of legal bars before Prohibition. Many people made beer and wine at home.

14.  fostered corruption and contempt for law and law enforcement (Al Capone's Chicago organization reportedly took in $60 million in 1927 and had half the city's police on its payroll.)

15.  Homicides increased in many cities, partly as a result of gang wars, but also because of an increase in drunkenness

http://www.drugtext.org/library/articles/craig102.htm

16. The major effect of the Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act on drinking was to dramatically reduce beer drinking (and therefore total alcohol consumption). At the same time, however, prohibition increased consumption of hard liquor (especially among the middle class

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=1017

17.  National prohibition of alcohol (1920-33)--the "noble experiment"--was undertaken to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in America.

18.  Prohibition removed a significant source of tax revenue and greatly increased government spending.

19.  It led many drinkers to switch to opium, marijuana, patent medicines, cocaine, and other dangerous substances that they would have been unlikely to encounter in the absence of Prohibition.

20.   underground economy swiftly moved from the production of beer to the production of the more potent form of alcohol, spirits.

21.   Prohibition made it more difficult to supply weaker, bulkier products, such as beer, than stronger, compact products, such as whiskey

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-prohibitionspeakeasy2.html

22.   The "Jazz Age” quickly signified a loosening up of morals, the exact opposite of what its Prohibition advocates had intended

23.  old social barriers were broken, as the rich and powerful began to rub shoulders with ordinary folks. From housewives, to large business owners, blue collar workers, corrupted police chiefs and mayors, these many patrons befriended each other in their quest of the same goals – drinking and avoiding the law

24.  it began to be fashionable to flout the Prohibition laws and the hip flask became a symbol of rebellion, seen everywhere

25.  Narcotics, hashish, and marijuana were soon used in abundance

     26.       When I sell liquor,

it's bootlegging.

When my patrons serve it

on a silver tray

on Lakeshore Drive,

it's hospitality.

-- Al Capone

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/On-this-Day--Prohibition-Went-into-Effect-in-America.html

27. However, crime increased because “neither federal nor local authorities would commit the resources necessary to enforce the Volstead Act,” according to the National Archives.

http://www.vintageperiods.com/prohibition.php

28.  Enforcement of 1920s' Prohibition was a formidable task. Bootleggers and rum runners (smugglers crossing a state border) were plentiful

29.  Chicago’s Al Capone and his organization were considered glamorous figures; supposedly, half the city’s police were on their payroll

Burkhart, Jeff. Something to celebrate: Repeal of Prohibition. Marin Independent Journal, December 7, 2007.

30. "What America needs now is a drink" declared President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the end of Prohibition

Essay 2

Sophia Alice Sincevich

Dr. Kerr

EN101-H1

October 4, 2010

Active Slumber

                       

Sleep is an essential process the body must go through to repair and cleanse itself (dailymail). Most external stimuli are filtered through the body’s senses and ultimately ignored because of the necessary actions taking place throughout the night.  However, the major organs in the body do not alter greatly in their functions during slumber and during wakefulness (talkaboutsleep). The human brain, eyes, and muscles have specific tasks to undertake while an individual is awake that do not differ significantly from their responsibilities when the body is asleep.

            Day or night, the brain swarms with activity (talk about sleep). When alert, it serves as a command center, continually sending and receiving information regarding the various stimuli coming in contact with the body. As the other organs gather sensations (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) the brain organizes and compiles the data it is sent, storing these details for later use. In addition to sifting through the abundant messages it receives, the brain controls the voluntary and involuntary actions of the body – breathing, digesting, moving an arm, wiggling an ear, and etcetera. Synapses in the mind fire signals throughout the body and across the brain to transfer information and complete tasks, whether or not an individual is awake (ninds). As the body begins to feel the need for sleep, the brain’s activity does not slack. Instead, it directs its focus to resting the body and recovering from the day (daily mail). Scientists measure the exertions of the brain in waves. They have recorded the actions of the brain while the body is both awake and asleep, and they have found that the frequency and speed of the waves do not decrease as an individual sleeps. The brain never stops controlling the body, even in states of relaxation (ninds). For the mind, at least, there is no difference between a conscious body and an unconscious one.

            The eyes serve as a direct window to the world outside of the human body. With the eye, one can observe colors, shapes, movements, light, and pattern, all while creating a three-dimensional view of the surrounding environment. Both in slumber and wakefulness, the eyes will close and wash themselves with tears. Tears clean the eyeball of dirt, bacteria, and other debris that does not belong with the eye. During the day, the lids will periodically close for this task, blinking, and throughout the night the eye remains shut for the same purpose (kidshealth). When the body is awake, the eyes will move to focus their gaze, night brings out a similar occurrence. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement, which happens during sleep approximately every ninety minutes (dailymail). This mobility is quicker than the daytime motion of the eyes, but the other stages of sleep recreate the pace of the eye’s movements. In the early phases of sleep, the eye muscles relax and the eye moves slowly (ninds). However, dreaming is done only in the REM section of sleep; the eye flits from side to side so that it can view the dream just like it would see the surrounding location during consciousness (dailymail). Though the rapidity of the motion changes, the overall function of the eye is not affected by sleep.

Muscles give the body the ability to move, maintain its shape, and support the structure of the human frame (emc). The power inherent in an individual comes from the function of the muscular system. In order to stand, open a door, pick up a book, and any other everyday action, the muscles are hard at work to follow the body’s impulses. There are three main muscle groups incorporated into the human frame: Skeletal, Cardiac, and Smooth muscles. Skeletal muscles are large and can be moved voluntarily; the Cardiac muscle is the heart, which pumps blood through the body; Smooth muscles cannot be controlled when thought about (kidshealth). As the body falls asleep, the sinews relax and slow their movements. All muscle function in the Skeletal Muscular system cease, though the other muscular systems remain in motion. The heart continues to beat; the bladder remains functioning and all other Smooth muscles carry on with their separate tasks (ninds). Just like the brain and the eyes, the differences between sleep and wakefulness in the body are minute.

The outward appearance of the human figure seems to change considerably when awake and in slumber. However, the functions of the major organs of the body suggest the opposite is true. Activity in the brain does not cease as the subconscious takes over at night; the eyes do not stop their motion when the eyes close; the muscles continue to pump blood and support the body even in rest. Sleep is an illusive, though crucial, procedure, but whether the body alters its duties during the night remains to be seen.

             

Works Cited

"National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke." Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep. N.p., 21, May 2007. Web. 20 Oct 2010. <http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/understanding

"Brain Tumor Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis Information on MedicineNet.com." MedicineNet - Health and Medical Information Produced by Doctors. Web. 05 Oct. 2010. <http://www.medicinenet.com/brain_tumor/article.htm>.

Dowshen, Steven. "Your Muscles." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Aug. 2009. Web. 05 Oct. 2010. <http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/muscles.html>.

EPSTEIN, ANGELA. "What Happens to Your Body During Sleep." Mail Online.Com. Associated Newspapers Ltd, n.d. Web. 20 Oct 2010. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-90598/What-happens-body-youre-asleep.html#comments>.

"An Intro to Sleep: What Is Sleep?" Sleep Disorder Information & Resources - Always up to Date with the Latest News in the Sleep Disorder Community! Web. 05 Oct. 2010. <http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-disorders/archives/intro.htm>.

"Muscular and Skeletal Systems." Estrella Mountain Community College. 18 May 2010. Web. 05 Oct. 2010. <http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookMUSSKEL.html>.

"Muscular and Skeletal Systems." Estrella Mountain Community College. 18 May 2010. Web. 05 Oct. 2010. <http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookMUSSKEL.html>.

Essay 2 Outline

I.

Introduction: your body is active during sleep and wakefulness, brain, eyes, and muscles

·        Sleep is the time the body can undergo repair and detoxification (1)

II.

          Brain: awake functions

• the human brain never decreases inactivity. Studies have shown that the brain is as active during sleep as it is when awake (17)
• Nerve-signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters control whether we are asleep or awake by acting on different groups of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain (18)
• Neurons in the brainstem, which connects the brain with the spinal cord, produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine that keep some parts of the brain active while we are awake (19)
• Other neurons at the base of the brain begin signaling when we fall asleep (20)
• The brain directs the things we choose to do (like walking and talking) and the              things our body does without thinking (like breathing). The brain is also in charge of   our senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell), memory, emotions, and personality. (46)
• Cerebrum- controls reading, thinking, learning, speech, and emotions (47)
• Cerebellum - The cerebellum controls balance and complex actions like walking and talking. (48)

• Brain Stem - It controls hunger and thirst. It also controls breathing, body temperature, blood pressure, and other basic body functions. (49)

                     Sleep functions

• activity in the cortex - the surface of the brain - drops by about 40 per cent while we are in the first phases of sleep (2)
• first stage: brain waves are small undulations (5)
• second stage: waves intersperse with electrical signals called sleep spindles - small bursts of activity lasting a couple of seconds which keep us in a state of quiet readiness (6)
• stage 2 sleep, our brain waves (fluctuations of electrical activity that can be measured by electrodes) become slower, with occasional bursts of rapid waves called sleep spindles. (24)
• stage three: waves continue to deepen into large slow waves. The larger and slower the brain wave, the deeper the sleep (7)
• In stage 3, extremely slow brain waves called delta waves begin to appear, interspersed with smaller, faster waves. (25)
• stage four: reached when 50 per cent of the waves are slow. not taxed mentally (8)
• By stage 4, the brain produces delta waves almost exclusively. It is very difficult to wake someone during stages 3 and 4, which together are called deep sleep. (26)
• stage five (REM): there is a high level of brain activity, helps consolidate memory and emotion, as at this point in sleep blood flow rises sharply in several brain areas linked to processing memories and emotional experiences. In areas involving complex reasoning and language, blood flow declines

III.

            Eyes: awake functions

• take in tons of information about the world around you — shapes, colors, movements, and more. (38)
• blinking: both a voluntary and involuntary action (39)
• step into bright light, the eyelids squeeze together tightly to protect your eyes until they can adjust to the light (40)
• eyelids shut automatically to protect the eye from possible danger (41)
• lacrimal glands, which make tears. Every time you blink your eye, a tiny bit of tear fluid comes out of your upper eyelid. (42)
• tears wash away germs, dust, or other particles that don't belong in your eye (43)

                      Sleep functions

• the movement of the eyes denotes the different stages of sleep (10)
• first falling into semi-consciousness, the eyes roll. But as we move into deeper sleep, rapid eye movement (REM) occurs when the eyes twitch and dart about (11)
• REM occurs within about 90 minutes of falling asleep and recurs about every 90 minutes throughout the night. It denotes a time when most dreaming is done (12)
• The first four stages of each cycle are regarded as quiet sleep or non-rapid eye move-ment (NREM). The final stage is denoted by rapid eye movement (REM) (4)
• During stage 1, which is light sleep, Our eyes move very slowly and muscle activity slows. (21)
• People awakened from stage 1 sleep often remember fragmented visual images. (22)
• stage 2 sleep, our eye movements stop (24)
•  

IV.

            Muscles: awake functions

• Animals use their muscular and skeletal systems for support, locomotion, and maintaining their shape(44)
• Rapid muscular contraction is important in generating internal heat, another homeostatic function. (45)
• muscles help keep you upright and standing tall. They also give your body the power it needs to lift and push things (37)
• the skeletal muscles work with your bones to give your body power and strength. In most cases, a skeletal muscle is attached to one end of a bone. It stretches all the way across a joint (the place where two bones meet) and then attaches again to another bone (36)
• SKELETAL: sometimes called striated muscle: voluntary muscles (34)
• CARDIAC: muscle that makes up the heart (31)
• heart contract to pump blood out and then relax to let blood back in after it has circulated through the body (32)
• like smooth muscle, cardiac muscle works all by itself with no help from you (33)
• SMOOTH: also called involuntary muscles — are usually in sheets, or layers, with one layer of muscle behind the other (28)
• can't control smooth muscles (29)

                           Sleep functions

• During stage 1, which is light sleep, muscle activity slows. (21)
• Though a person can change their sleeping position about 35 times a night, the muscles of the body remain relaxed. This gives the chance for tissues to be repaired and restored. (15)
• However, studies indicate that muscles might receive just as much relaxation and repair during simple rest periods and that a state of unconsciousness is not needed for this to take place. (16)
• the muscles of the body are relaxed to a point of virtual paralysis (13)
• stage four: 40% of the blood flow usually reserved for the brain goes to the muscles. (8)

V.

            Conclusion: Your body has set tasks for both sleep and wakefulness

Comparison Essay

I've decided to write my comparison essay on the differences in the body awake and asleep. More specifically, differences in the brain, eyes, and muscles. We'll see how well that goes!