Arielle Cruz
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as Prohibition, banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States from 1920 to 1933. The amendment was the result of a nationwide temperance movement that advocated for moderation and, in some cases, complete abstinence from alcohol consumption. While Prohibition was intended to eliminate alcohol from American life, it ultimately failed to do so, with many people finding ways to continue drinking through loopholes or illegal means. The Eighteenth Amendment was eventually repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amendment Number | Eighteenth Amendment (Amendment XVIII) |
| Date Proposed by Congress | December 18, 1917 |
| Ratification Date | January 16, 1919 |
| Ratification Requirements Met | January 29, 1919 |
| Number of States that Ratified the Amendment | 46 by 1922 |
| Enabling Legislation | National Prohibition Act (Volstead Act) |
| Date Prohibition Started | January 17, 1920 |
| Amendment Status | Repealed by Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933 |
| Groups that Supported the Amendment | Anti-Saloon League, Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Churches, Woman Suffragists, Industrialists |
| Groups that Opposed the Amendment | N/A |
| Impact of the Amendment | Rise of bootlegging, speakeasies, organised crime, and corruption in law enforcement |
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What You'll Learn
The Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution
The Anti-Saloon League, founded in 1893 in Oberlin, Ohio, was a key player in the push for Prohibition. The league, which received much of its support from Protestant evangelical congregations, began a campaign in 1906 to ban the sale of alcohol at the state level. Other groups, such as the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, also joined the effort to ban the sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcoholic beverages. By 1916, 23 of 48 states had already passed laws against saloons, with some even banning the manufacture of alcohol.
The Eighteenth Amendment was enacted as a progressive amendment, with the goal of improving society and eliminating the negative effects of alcohol on individuals, families, and communities. The amendment was enforced by Congress and state legislatures, who had the power to enact appropriate legislation to ban the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages. However, the amendment did not ban the consumption of alcohol outright, and millions of Americans continued to drink liquor illegally. This gave rise to bootlegging, speakeasies, and organised crime.
The Eighteenth Amendment was ultimately repealed by the Twenty-First Amendment on December 5, 1933, due to its failure to eliminate alcohol from American life and the negative impact it had on the economy. It remains the only constitutional amendment in American history to be repealed.
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The Prohibition of alcohol
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established the prohibition of alcohol in the United States. Proposed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified by the requisite number of states on January 16, 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the country. It also forbade the importation and exportation of beverage liquor.
The amendment was the result of decades of efforts by the temperance movement, which argued that a ban on the sale of alcohol would improve various societal issues, including poverty and immoral sexual behaviour. The movement, which began amassing a following in the 1820s and 1830s, was bolstered by religious revivalism and supported by groups such as the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. The Anti-Saloon League, a prominent supporter of the movement, claimed that prohibition would inspire new forms of sociability, create happier families, and improve the world.
The Eighteenth Amendment superseded existing state and regional restrictions. To enforce it, Congress enacted the National Prohibition Act, also known as the Volstead Act, which set the starting date for nationwide prohibition as January 17, 1920. The amendment and its enabling legislation did not ban the consumption of alcohol outright, and millions of Americans continued to drink liquor illegally. This gave rise to bootlegging, speakeasies, and organised crime.
Prohibition was also detrimental to the economy, as the alcohol industry had previously been the fifth-largest in the nation. By the end of the 1920s, support for Prohibition had waned, and it was ultimately repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933, making it the only constitutional amendment in American history to be repealed.
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The temperance movement
In the United States, the temperance movement began at a national level in the 1820s, popularized by evangelical temperance reformers and the middle classes. The movement focused on advising against hard spirits and advocating for moral reform rather than legal measures against alcohol. An earlier movement had begun during the American Revolution in Connecticut, Virginia, and New York State, with farmers forming associations to ban whiskey distilling. This spread to eight states, advocating for temperance and taking positions on religious issues such as the observance of the Sabbath.
The Second Great Awakening, an evangelical Protestant religious revival of the 1820s and 1830s, brought with it an optimism about moral reform. This included abolitionism and temperance, with volunteer organizations working towards the goal of a perfect society. The movement was nonsectarian in principle but consisted mostly of churchgoers. Connecticut-born minister Lyman Beecher published a book in 1826 called "Six Sermons on...Intemperance", in which he described inebriation as a "national sin" and suggested legislation to prohibit the sale of alcohol.
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The Anti-Saloon League
The ASL's main objective was to prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol, which they believed was responsible for many of society's problems. They argued that banning alcohol would bring about numerous social benefits, including the elimination of poverty, reduced violence, happier families, and improved overall well-being. The ASL used various tactics, such as speeches, advertisements, and public demonstrations, to spread their message and gain support for their cause. They also lobbied at all levels of government for legislation to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and import of alcoholic beverages.
One of the ASL's most prominent leaders was Wayne Wheeler, who played a crucial role in introducing the Volstead Act, also known as the National Prohibition Act. This act, passed in 1919, laid the groundwork for nationwide prohibition by defining the procedures for banning the production and distribution of alcohol. The ASL's efforts culminated in the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1919, which established the prohibition of alcohol.
However, the ASL's success was short-lived. The Eighteenth Amendment was repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933. Following the repeal, the ASL merged into the National Temperance League, and the group continued its advocacy under different names over the years. Despite the end of nationwide prohibition, the ASL's legacy remains significant, as it played a pivotal role in shaping alcohol policy and public opinion during the early 20th century in the United States.
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The National Prohibition Act
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution banned the manufacture and sale of alcohol. Proposed by Congress in December 1917, it was ratified by the requisite number of states in January 1919. The Eighteenth Amendment was the result of decades of effort by the temperance movement, which argued that banning the sale of alcohol would help eliminate poverty and other social problems.
To define the language used in the amendment, Congress enacted enabling legislation called the National Prohibition Act, better known as the Volstead Act, on October 28, 1919. The act laid the groundwork for Prohibition, defining the procedures for banning the distribution of alcohol, including production and distribution. The Volstead Act was conceived and drafted by Wayne Wheeler, a leader of the Anti-Saloon League, a group that blamed alcohol for almost all of society's problems. The act was named after Andrew Volstead, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who managed the legislation.
The Volstead Act had three main sections: previously enacted war prohibition, prohibition as designated by the Eighteenth Amendment, and industrial alcohol use. The act prohibited the production, sale, transportation, and possession of beverages that contained 0.5% or greater alcohol by volume. This stringent definition included beer and light wines, as well as distilled alcoholic beverages such as whiskey and gin. The act also set forth fines and jail sentences for those who broke the law, as well as regulations for law enforcement.
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Frequently asked questions
The Eighteenth Amendment.
The Eighteenth Amendment was proposed by Congress on December 18, 1917.
The Eighteenth Amendment prohibited the sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol in the United States.
The Eighteenth Amendment was the result of the temperance movement, which held that a ban on the sale of alcohol would improve societal issues such as poverty.
No. The Eighteenth Amendment did not succeed in eliminating alcohol from American life. People found loopholes in the anti-liquor laws and turned to illegal avenues, leading to the emergence of a black market, bootlegging, and organised crime.
