Vices Case

During the Progressive era, there was a huge push for both political and social reform. Reformers were highly motivated to eliminate vices. A vice is a behavior or practice that is broadly considered to be immoral by society. Common vices include smoking addiction, alcohol consumption, video games, and drugs. According to Gerald Woods, Progressives are specifically opposed to, “ saloons, prostitution, gambling, slot machines, horse races, prize fights, dancing [in night clubs].” Progressives were also against relationships between specific races. During this era, majority of individuals were anti-Asian. Progressives frowned upon relationships between black or Asian men and white women. The two main vices Progressives stood against included alcohol consumption and prostitution. Alcohol consumption is considered a vice because it was potentially dangerous to the family and the individual drinking. Progressives felt that alcohol made men more abusive and led to an increase of men beating their wives and children. Another argument against alcohol consumption is that males should not be wasting their money. Instead they should use their money to support their families. Excessive drinking may also deteriorate health and lead to organ failure. Eventually, the Progressives helped pass the National Prohibition Act to ban the sale and production of alcohol in the United States. The second major vice, prostitution, is considered a vice simply because it is illegal. Prostitution is also harmful to the family because it dishonored marriages and because it was an expensive vice. Men could have spent their money on their families instead of on prostitutes. It is also exploits women. Although it was difficult to prevent prostitution, the Progressives passed the Red Light Abatement Act in 1913 in an attempt to curb or reduce it. Under the law land owners whose land is being used, knowingly or not, for prostitution will be liable for fines from the state of California. Multiple