Michigan Court of Appeals Judge William Whitbeck called the 1919 ratification of the 18th Amendment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages the most important domestic event in U.S. history. The group of judges and lawyers were gathered for annual Law Day breakfast this week.

It cultivated selective disregard for the law; gave rise to organized crime, which benefitted from a then-corrupt political environment; and led to persistent public skepticism of the government’s ability to direct behavior, Whitbeck said Wednesday.

The impact of Prohibition, however, lingers. Because of the lack of integrity among leaders and the rampant crime associated with the period, people lost faith in government. The Tea Party movement, which advocates limited government and free markets, is evidence the feelings persist, he said.

OK, history buffs, would you agree?

 

I think the sale of guiness in bottles was the most important imported event.

I assume the context was a discussion of alcohol?

 

That's probably the second most important domestic event in history. The first would have to be the bombing of Pearl Harbor (domestic because it happened on US soil).

In the course of 45 minutes the Japanese helped us:

1. End the great depression
2. Create the strongest most vibrant economy the world had ever seen
3. Mobilize our armed forces to win the war in Europe and then Asia
4. Develop modern technology
5. Develop the atomic bomb
6. Set foreign policy for the next 50+ years
7. Develop modern aircraft and weapons
8. Put women to work

I could go on and on, but you probably get the point.