Prohibition Essay - American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition ...

TEACHER NOTESLEARNING GOALSStudents will:• Distinguish between temperance andProhibition.• Understand the process for amendingthe Constitution.• Compare and contrast the Founders’views on government with those ofProgressives.• Understand historical events leadingup to and following the passage of theEighteenth and 21st Amendments.• Understand and evaluate argumentsoffered by those in support of aconstitutional amendment banning thesale of alcohol.PRE-READING ACTIVITIES• Read the Eighteenth and 21stAmendments to the Constitution.• Define the terms Prohibition,Temperance, Progressive, OrganizedCrime, and Repeal on your own.Compare your definitions with a partner.EXTENSIONPLEASE NOTEThis resource contains backgroundessays at three levels:10-12 th grade (1100 words)8-9 th grade (800 words)6-7 th grade (500 words)The 18th Amendment banned themanufacture, sale, and transport of asubstance. Make a list of all the governmentofficials or agencies who can approve orban substances citizens ingest. In practicetoday, do nationwide bans on substancesrequire a constitutional amendment?Should they require one? Discuss thefollowing questions:a. How do these types of prohibitionscompare to prohibition of alcohol?b. What effect have these bans had onindividual freedom?c. Do similar types of crime and violenceaccompany nationwide prohibitionson illegal drugs? Why?d. Are these worthwhile trade-offs?Explain.