chapter 2 section 1 critical thinking 5

do you think the passage of the Volstead act and the ruling in the scopes trial represented genuine triumphs for traditional values? think about:

• changes in urban life in the 1920s
  
• the effects of Prohibition
  
• the legacy of the scopes trial

during the 1920s, American life had a dramatic change. there was more people living in urban areas than in rural areas. it was a time when life was more busy and spontaneous. more people were moving away from a more traditional lifestyle to obtain a free active lifestyle in the city. during this time there were two movements that had a goals to sustain the traditional values of America. the two things were the prohibition era, and scopes trial. although striving to keep traditional values, these two events had more negative effects on society.

The Eighteenth amendment claimed it was illegal to manufacture, sell, and transport alcohol. This amendment was added to halt the alcohol consumption, which led to drunkenness, and abuse. the law worked in decreasing the consumption of alcohol, but it backfired on the people who created the law. the positive side of the bill was that it decreased alcohol consumption, but it caused a wave of negative effects. in large cities, gangs appeared and ruled the town. there terror was fueled by the illegal distribution of alcohol.

the other fall to traditional values was the scopes trial. the scopes trial occurred in Tennessee, and it was about the teachings of John T. Scopes. scopes was arrested for teaching the theory of evolution in his biology class. that year the State of Tennessee passed a law that made it illegal to teach evolution. Scopes was found guilty and fined 100 dollars. this seemed like a triumph for traditional values, but it brought around a thought of doubtfulness about creationism.