Mason Delacroix
The first government ban on alcohol in the US, known as Prohibition, came about as a result of the temperance movement, which advocated for moderation and, in its most extreme form, complete abstinence from alcohol consumption. The movement began in the 1820s and 1830s, with the American Temperance Society (ATS) forming in 1826 and amassing 1.5 million members by 1835. The movement was driven by religious groups, particularly Pietistic Protestants, who aimed to heal what they saw as a society beset by alcohol-related problems such as alcoholism, domestic violence, and political corruption. The entry of the US into World War I also played a role, as a temporary prohibition on alcohol production was instituted to save grain for food production, and anti-German sentiment connected beer and brewers with treason. The 18th Amendment, which illegalized the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol, was passed by Congress in 1917 and ratified in 1919, marking the start of nationwide Prohibition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 18th Amendment proposed on 18 December 1917; came into effect on 17 January 1920 |
| Reasoning | To save grain for the war effort |
| Support | Progressives in the Prohibition, Democratic, and Republican parties; pietistic religious groups; women's groups; industrialists; tea merchants; soda fountain manufacturers |
| Opposition | Beer industry; wealthy Catholic and German Lutheran communities; politicians; drinkers |
| Outcome | Rise of organised crime; economic malaise; stock market crash of 1929; widespread corruption in law enforcement |
| Duration | 13 years |
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What You'll Learn
The American Temperance Society (ATS)
The ATS benefited from and contributed to a reform sentiment in much of the country, promoting the abolition of slavery, expanding women's rights, temperance, and the improvement of society. The society was most successful in the northern states, possibly due to its association with the abolitionist movement. Over time, the ATS and other temperance groups shifted their focus from voluntary abstinence to advocating for the mandatory prohibition of alcohol.
The temperance movement, rooted in America's Protestant churches, first urged moderation in alcohol consumption. However, as the movement gained momentum, it demanded that local, state, and national governments prohibit alcohol outright. The movement was taken up by various religious denominations, particularly the Methodists, who linked liquor-dispensing saloons with political corruption and other social issues.
The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), led by Frances Willard, was a significant force in the temperance movement. The WCTU lobbied for local laws restricting alcohol and created anti-alcohol educational campaigns that reached schools nationwide. The movement also gained support from woman suffragists concerned about alcohol's detrimental effects on family life. By the 1850s, the temperance movement had successfully combined individual conversions, political pressure, and legislative measures. This led to successes such as the Maine law, which banned the manufacture and sale of liquor, and was adopted by twelve states before its repeal in 1856.
The ATS provided the foundation for later groups, such as the Anti-Saloon League, which coordinated the push for Prohibition in the early 20th century. The Eighteenth Amendment, passed in 1917, illegalized the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol, leading to a nationwide moratorium on alcohol that lasted from 1920 to 1933.
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Anti-German sentiment
The first government ban on alcohol in the US, known as Prohibition, was the result of a temperance movement that had been gaining momentum since the 1820s and 1830s. The American Temperance Society (ATS), formed in 1826, helped initiate the first temperance movement and served as a foundation for many later groups. The movement advocated for moderation in alcohol consumption and, in its most extreme form, complete abstinence. The religious establishment was central to the movement, with support from Protestant evangelical congregations, as well as woman suffragists concerned about the negative impact of alcohol on families.
However, the event that encouraged the first government ban on alcohol specifically was the entry of the US into World War I. As anti-German sentiment rose, the Anti-Saloon League (ASL) effectively connected beer and brewers with Germans and treason in the public mind. Many brewers were German and often the loudest opponents of prohibition, so this sentiment dealt a serious blow to the anti-Prohibition forces. The ASL's propaganda was so effective that most politicians dared not defy them, and in 1917, the 18th Amendment, which banned the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol, sailed through both houses of Congress. It was ratified by three-quarters of the nation's states in just 13 months.
The temperance movement had already laid the groundwork for Prohibition, but World War I and the associated anti-German sentiment provided the final push needed to pass the 18th Amendment. The ASL's ability to connect beer with treason in the public mind, combined with the desire to save grain for the war effort, created a perfect storm that led to the first government ban on alcohol in the US.
The 18th Amendment went into effect at midnight on January 17, 1920, and the country officially went dry. However, enforcement of the amendment proved challenging, and a black market emerged, consisting of bootleggers, speakeasies, and distilling operations. Organized crime syndicates arose to coordinate the complex chain of operations involved in the illegal alcohol trade, and corruption in law enforcement became widespread. Despite these challenges, Prohibition remained in place for 13 years until it was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.
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The Anti-Saloon League
The League lobbied at all levels of government for legislation to prohibit the manufacture, import, and sale of intoxicating beverages, including spirits, beer, and wine. They used a multitiered approach, including national legislation, congressional hearings, and their American Issue Publishing Company. The League also employed pressure politics and invented many modern techniques of public relations, using emotion based on patriotism, efficiency, and anti-German sentiment during World War I.
The League was particularly effective in rural and Southern states, but made little headway in larger cities or among liturgical church members such as Catholics, Jews, Episcopalians, and German Lutherans. One of their most prominent leaders was Wayne Wheeler, who made prohibition a wedge issue and succeeded in getting many pro-prohibition candidates elected. Wheeler's deep resentment for alcohol stemmed from a young age when he was injured by a drunk worker on a farm.
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The Eighteenth Amendment
The temperance movement gained momentum in the late 19th century, with the proliferation of saloons after the Civil War. The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), founded in 1873, became a powerful force in the movement, linking the fight against alcohol to the women's movement, as alcohol was seen as a destructive force in families and marriages. The WCTU spent many years building the movement through education and local and state laws, and in 1881 had a significant success when Kansas included a ban on alcohol in its state constitution.
The push for prohibition also had religious roots, with pietistic religious denominations, especially the Methodists, leading the movement in the 19th century. In the early 20th century, the Anti-Saloon League, supported by Protestant evangelical congregations, took up the cause, connecting beer and brewers with Germans and treason during World War I. This led to a temporary prohibition on alcohol production during the war, as well as increased support for a permanent ban.
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The role of women
The American Temperance Society (ATS), formed in 1826, was instrumental in this regard, with women constituting 35-60% of its chapters by 1835. The movement was rooted in religious beliefs and saw alcohol as a moral and societal issue, with women taking on the role of regulators of morality and advocates for families affected by drunkenness. The link between alcohol and domestic issues was a key motivator for women, who often had personal experiences dealing with drunk family members.
The Women's Crusade, also known as the Women's Praying Crusade, was a religious group that emerged in 1874 and publicly prayed in front of saloons to end alcoholism. This group evolved into the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), founded by Annie Wittenmyer in 1874 and led by Frances Willard from 1879 until her death. The WCTU became the largest women's organization in the United States, lobbying for local laws restricting alcohol and creating anti-alcohol educational campaigns in schools.
The WCTU was instrumental in the prohibition movement, and its alliance with suffragists such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton further strengthened its impact. The push for women's suffrage and prohibition were often linked, and the success of the temperance movement allowed women to gain a foothold in politics and drive change on issues that affected them and their families.
However, not all women supported the prohibition movement, and some actively opposed it, either due to disagreement with the cause or the belief that women should not act so publicly. The Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform, for example, was instrumental in getting the 18th Amendment repealed.
The prohibition era also saw changes in women's social roles, with the "New Woman" emerging, characterized by increased independence and confidence. The success of the suffrage movement empowered women to enter the workplace and seek out new experiences, such as drinking in clubs and speakeasies, which was seen as a form of rebellion and self-expression.
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Frequently asked questions
The Eighteenth Amendment, which illegalized the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol, was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1917.
The ban was encouraged by the growing temperance movement, which advocated for moderation in or complete abstinence from alcohol. The movement was driven by religious groups, women's groups, and industrialists.
The Eighteenth Amendment came into effect on January 17, 1920, at 12:01 am.
The amendment led to the creation of a black market for alcohol, including bootleggers, speakeasies, and distilling operations. It also contributed to the rise of organized crime and corruption in law enforcement.
Prohibition lasted for 13 years until it was repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933.
