The idea of an alcohol free country sparked interest in many minds of those who would do anything to make this country a better place. What began as a "noble experiment," Prohibition was created in order to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, decrease the tax burden brought on by prisons and poorhouses, as well as improve the health and hygiene of the people in the United States (Thornton 1). The main purpose of Prohibition, which was to reduce the quantity of alcohol consumed, was seemingly achieved at first. Then as consumption began to steadily rise from the middle to the end of the roaring twenties, it was clear that the objective had failed miserably (2). Americans pride themselves on luxuries such as liberty, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. One of these freedoms should be, at the right age, the choice of whether to consume alcohol or not. Although alcohol abuse can be damaging to society, an amendment to prohibit it entirely is not an effective solution.
             The first thought of Prohibition can be traced back to the time when the first settlers were arriving from England. They had introduced liquor or "fire water" to the Native Americans and had witnessed that this was a big mistake. The Natives would become much more hostile towards the "white man" and during drunken rages would raid settlements and cause much unnecessary chaos. This was the first attempt in history to ban the sale of alcohol. This led to the first bootleggers as well. Bootleggers were enterprising traders who smuggled alcohol to the Native Americans for very large profits (Severn 13).
             Temperance movements in 1914 had tried to get a similar amendment passed but had failed due to its unpopularity (Aaseng 13). Most Americans were for Prohibition when the Eighteenth Amendment was passed in 1920 (Severn 7). Senator Morris Sheppard, a democrat from Texas, introduced the proposal for an amendment that deal...