Introduction
The Prohibition Era was a time period in American history lasting from 1920 to 1933. During this time, the production, sale, transportation, and consumption of any alcoholic beverage was legally banned in the nation by the United States federal government, under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. The purpose of this ban was due to the criminal society leading up to the 1920s. Prohibition was a reaction to the ill-turned society conflicted with pre-existing social issues like domestic violence, child abandonment, crime, unemployment, and poverty. During the 13 years of prohibition, many jobs were lost in brewing, distilling, and hospitality industries. The government also lost tax revenue from alcohol sales. As a reaction to this, corruption grew among politicians, law enforcement officials, and business owners, as many turned to bootlegging and other criminal activities.
Task
Your task is to search the internet and find sources that accurately explain what the Prohibition Era was during the early 1920s up to 1933, and compose a reflection of what it would have been like to live during that time, from the point of view of an employee or owner of a brewing company. Written as a first person point of view, the reflection essay should be 1-2 pages in length. Write a rough draft by yourself, and then collaborate with a partner as the two of you come up with the final reflection.
Process
1. Brainstorm
- What was society like before compared to during prohibition?
- Who was this ban targeted at?
- What influenced this law to be passed?
- Who was affected/ involved?
- How did this impact different regions of the country?
- How did people react?
- How was the economy affected?
2. Review and Find Resources
- Take these questions to the Google search box and find sources that are accurate to the Prohibition Era in America.
3. Rough Draft
- Develop a rough draft on your own, incorporating a few of the brainstorming questions above.
4. Find a Partner and Collaborate
- Grab a partner in the classroom.
- Read each other's rough draft.
- Work together to incorporate both rough drafts evenly into 1 final reflection paper.
Evaluation
At the end of the WebQuest, partners will read their reflections aloud to the class.
1. Were any of the questions answered in the reflection?
2. Was the information accurate based on the sources?
3. Was the paper well written and in the correct format?
Conclusion
The purpose of this WebQuest is to allow students to somewhat experience the past, and get a better understanding of what society was like, and how it has evolved. It is aimed at placing students in the shoes of those who experienced the Prohibition Era first hand. The assignment grade will be based on creativity but also accuracy, and will hopefully strengthen each student's writing skills.
Credits
By Grace Ritchie
6/18/23