The Prohibiton Movement essays

The Prohibiton Movement essays The article that I have chosen to review discusses and explains the entire prohibition movement of the 1920s. It explains that the temperance movements were began when there was an idea that the consumption of alcohol was hazardous to peoples virtue. The early efforts of people to ban alcohol were only partially effective. They were able to help 23 of the 48 states at the time to adopt antisaloon laws, which closed saloons and prohibited the manufacture of any alcoholic beverage in the state. These events all led up to the growth of the idea of a national prohibition law. By 1919, the dry members (prohibition supporters) outnumbered the wet members (against prohibition) by more than two to one. Due to this, on Dec. 22, 1917, Congress submitted the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. By January 1919 ratification was complete, and the 18th Amendment was in place. It officially banned the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors. By the time the law was in place it had a large following of support both popularly and in Congress. Congress passed the National Prohibition Act in order to enforce the 18th Amendment. It defined what an intoxicating liquor was, and also made concessions for certain personal uses of lighter liquors. However, Congress was never really willing to give much money towards enforcing the movement, and people blatantly disregarded the unstable law. Because of the inability for the law to uphold itself it remained more of an ideal than an actuality. Almost as soon as prohibition had set in, it was challenged by many groups of people. Some claimed that it led to a social disorder and decay which was exemplified by the raids, seizures, and searchings of the police. People claimed that this style of law enforcement was an encroachment upon the private lives of civilians. Some of ...

A Guide to the Government Link to Abortions

A Guide to the Government Link to Abortions One controversial issue surrounded by rumor and misinformation is that of government funding of abortion. In the U.S., do taxpayer dollars pay for abortions? To dispel the rumors, lets look at a  brief history of federal funding of abortion. It will help you understand why, for the past three decades, abortion has not been funded by the government. The History of Federally Funded Abortions Abortion was made legal in the United States by the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade in 1973. During the first three years of legalized abortion, Medicaid the government program that provides health care  to low-income pregnant women, children, the elderly, and the disabled covered the cost of terminating a pregnancy. However, in 1977 Congress passed the Hyde Amendment which put limitations on Medicaid coverage of abortion. This allowed it for Medicaid recipients only in the cases of rape, incest, or if the mothers life was physically endangered. Over the years, those two exceptions were eliminated. In 1979, abortions performed if a mothers life was endangered were no longer allowed. In 1981, abortions performed due to rape and/or incest were denied. As the Hyde Amendment must be passed by Congress annually, the pendulum of opinion over abortion coverage has swung back and forth very slightly over the years. In 1993, Congress permitted abortion coverage  for victims of rape and incest. In addition, the  current version of the Hyde Amendment also permits ​abortion for women  whose lives are endangered by their pregnancies. It Extends Beyond Medicaid The ban on federal funding for abortion affects more than low-income women. Abortion is not covered for women in the military, the  Peace Corps, federal prisons, and those who receive care from Indian Health Services. The Hyde Amendment also applies to coverage provided through the Affordable Care Act. The Future of the Hyde Amendment This issue came to life again in 2017. The House of Representatives passed a bill establishing the Hyde Amendment as a permanent fixture in federal law. A similar measure is up for consideration in the Senate. If this passes and is signed by the President, the Hyde Amendment will no longer be up for review on an annual basis, but be a perpetual law.