Wickersham Commission

Wickersham Commission

The Wickersham Commission, officially known as the National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement, was a committee established by U.S. President Herbert Hoover in 1929. The commission was tasked with investigating the effectiveness of the Prohibition in the United States, and the enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Background

The Wickersham Commission was named after its chairman, George W. Wickersham, a former U.S. Attorney General. The commission was established by President Hoover to provide an in-depth study of the American criminal justice system, with a particular focus on the enforcement of Prohibition.

Findings

The Wickersham Commission's report, published in 1931, was a comprehensive study of the U.S. criminal justice system. The report highlighted the widespread corruption and ineffectiveness of Prohibition enforcement. Despite these findings, the commission did not recommend the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. Instead, it suggested that the government should improve its enforcement methods and educate the public about the dangers of alcohol.

Impact

The findings of the Wickersham Commission played a significant role in shaping public opinion about Prohibition. The report's revelations about the widespread corruption and ineffectiveness of Prohibition enforcement contributed to growing public disillusionment with the Eighteenth Amendment. This disillusionment eventually led to the repeal of Prohibition with the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933.

See also

• Prohibition in the United States
• Herbert Hoover
• Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
• Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution