Theo Nash
The Prohibition era in the United States lasted from 1920 to 1933, during which the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages were prohibited. While the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1919, enforced Prohibition nationwide, many states had already curtailed the alcohol industry through local option laws. In 1851, Maine became the first state to pass a law banning the sale of alcohol, though it was not a complete ban and was repealed in 1856. In 1881, Kansas became the first state to outlaw alcoholic beverages entirely in its constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First state to prohibit alcohol | Kansas |
| Year of prohibition | 1881 |
| Nationwide prohibition | 1920-1933 |
| Amendment | Eighteenth Amendment |
| Amendment ratification year | 1919 |
| Amendment repeal year | 1933 |
| Amendment repeal Amendment | Twenty-first Amendment |
| First state to ratify the Eighteenth Amendment | Mississippi |
| Volstead Act | Allowed individual farmers to make certain wines for home consumption |
| Effect of prohibition | Rise of organised crime, bootlegging, speakeasies, and a period of gangsterism |
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What You'll Learn
Kansas was the first state to outlaw alcohol in 1881
Kansas was the first state to outlaw alcohol in its constitution in 1881. This was the result of the work of the WCTU, whose members believed that by reaching children with their message, they could create a "dry sentiment" that would lead to prohibition. The second president of the WCTU, Frances Willard, held that the organization's aims were to create a union of women from all denominations to educate the youth, reform drinking culture, and remove alcohol from society through law.
Kansas' prohibition of alcohol was part of a broader temperance movement that was linked to the women's movement. Temperance advocates encouraged moderation in alcohol consumption and, in its most extreme form, complete abstinence. This movement gained momentum in the Progressive Era (1890-1920), when saloons became increasingly unpopular.
The push for prohibition was also influenced by the Christian temperance movement, which opposed alcohol due to its links to slavery. Neal Dow, the mayor of Portland, Maine, was a prominent figure in this movement. He believed that "rum and slavery fed off each other" and was instrumental in passing the "Twenty-Eight Gallon Law" in 1846, which prohibited the sale of alcohol in quantities less than 28 gallons, effectively making alcohol inaccessible to the average drinker.
While Kansas was the first state to outlaw alcohol in its constitution, other states followed suit. Maine passed a law banning the sale of alcohol in 1851, and Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont soon introduced prohibition legislation as well. However, these early attempts at prohibition were often met with resistance and were largely unsuccessful in stopping alcohol consumption.
It wasn't until the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified in 1919 that nationwide prohibition was enacted in the United States, prohibiting the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. This period of prohibition lasted from 1920 to 1933 and gave rise to bootlegging, speakeasies, and a thriving black market for alcohol. Despite the ban, millions of Americans continued to drink liquor illegally, and the policy was ultimately repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933.
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Maine passed a law banning alcohol sales in 1851
In 1851, Maine passed a stricter statute known as the "Maine Law", which banned the sale of alcohol in the state. The law was signed by Governor John Hubbard, who became known as the "Father of Prohibition". This statute built on an earlier law passed in 1846, which had outlawed the sale of alcoholic beverages except for "industrial and medicinal purposes". The Maine Law was the first statutory implementation of the developing temperance movement in the United States, which aimed to reduce alcohol consumption.
The Maine Law prohibited the sale of all alcoholic beverages except for "medicinal, mechanical or manufacturing purposes". The law was crafted by the prominent temperance activist Neal Dow, a native of Portland, Maine, and the Prohibition Party's candidate for president in 1880. Dow became known as the ""Father of American Prohibition". The law's wording was influenced by Dow's efforts, and it quickly spread across the nation, with twelve states adopting similar measures by 1855.
The Maine Law was unpopular with many working-class people and immigrants. On June 2, 1855, opposition to the law turned violent in Portland during an incident known as the Portland Rum Riot. Opponents of the law, including many working-class Mainers, believed that Mayor Dow was keeping liquor in the basement of Portland City Hall. This incident highlighted the contentious nature of prohibition and the strong opposition it evoked among certain segments of society.
The Maine Law was eventually repealed in 1858 and replaced with a law that allowed the limited sale of alcohol as a beverage. Despite this, enforcement of prohibition laws remained a challenge, and bootlegging became commonplace. Maine continued to be at the forefront of the prohibition movement, with the establishment of a "Commission to Regulate Sale of Intoxicating Liquors" in 1862.
The efforts of Maine and other states influenced the later adoption of nationwide prohibition in the United States. From 1920 to 1933, the Eighteenth Amendment prohibited the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages across the country. This period, known as the Prohibition era, gave rise to bootlegging, speakeasies, and a thriving black market for alcohol. Despite the intentions behind prohibition, it ultimately failed to eliminate alcohol consumption and was repealed in 1933 with the Twenty-first Amendment.
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The Eighteenth Amendment prohibited alcohol nationwide
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established the prohibition of alcohol across the nation. The amendment was proposed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified by the requisite number of states on January 16, 1919. It prohibited the manufacture, sale, transportation, and importation of intoxicating liquors within, to, or from the United States.
The Eighteenth Amendment was the culmination of decades of efforts by the temperance movement, which advocated for moderation or complete abstinence from alcohol consumption. The movement argued that a ban on the sale of alcohol would eliminate poverty and improve societal issues such as immoral sexual behaviour and violence. Groups such as the Anti-Saloon League and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union played a significant role in campaigning for prohibition.
The amendment superseded the many state and regional restrictions that were already in place. Before the nationwide ban, several states had already passed prohibition laws, with Kansas becoming the first state to outlaw alcoholic beverages in its constitution in 1881. The passage of the Eighteenth Amendment, however, made prohibition the law of the land.
Prohibition went into effect on January 17, 1920, one year after the amendment was ratified. It lasted for thirteen years, during which time millions of Americans drank liquor illegally, giving rise to bootlegging, speakeasies, and a period of gangsterism. Enforcement of the amendment proved challenging, especially in urban areas, where opposition to Prohibition was more prevalent. A black market emerged, and organised crime syndicates, such as Al Capone's operation in Chicago, reaped huge profits from the illicit liquor trade.
By the 1930s, public sentiment had turned against Prohibition, and it was eventually repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933, making the Eighteenth Amendment the only constitutional amendment in American history to be repealed.
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The Twenty-first Amendment ended Prohibition in 1933
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on January 16, 1919, prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. The amendment was the culmination of a century of reform movements aimed at reducing alcohol consumption and preventing alcohol-related issues such as alcoholism, drunkenness, disorder, and violence.
However, the Eighteenth Amendment had unintended consequences. While it did lead to a decrease in alcoholism and drunkenness, it also resulted in lawlessness and the rise of organised crime. A black market for alcohol emerged, and many Americans continued to drink despite the amendment, fuelling the illegal alcohol trade. This period saw the rise of bootlegging, speakeasies, and increased crime rates.
As a result of the negative impacts of Prohibition, a movement to repeal the Eighteenth Amendment gained momentum. On February 20, 1933, Congress proposed the Twenty-first Amendment, which aimed to end Prohibition. This amendment was unique in that it was ratified not by state legislatures but by state ratifying conventions specifically selected for this purpose.
On December 5, 1933, the Twenty-first Amendment was ratified, ending Prohibition at the federal level. However, it is important to note that Prohibition-era laws persisted at the state level in some places for decades after the Twenty-first Amendment. Mississippi, for example, was the last state to lift all its Prohibition-era laws in 1966, and Kansas lifted its ban on public bars in 1987.
While the Twenty-first Amendment ended nationwide Prohibition, it recognised the authority of individual states to regulate the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol within their borders. This amendment highlighted the complex nature of alcohol regulation in the United States, with some states continuing to closely monitor the distribution of alcohol even today.
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The temperance movement advocated for alcohol moderation
The temperance movement began in the early 19th century, with the earliest temperance organizations founded in Saratoga, New York, in 1808 and in Massachusetts in 1813. The movement quickly spread under the influence of churches, and by the 1830s, there were 6,000 local societies across several U.S. states. During this time, drunkenness and its social consequences were on the rise, and temperance societies began to promote abstinence or "teetotalism." The term "teetotaler" originated from the capital "T"s written next to the names of individuals who pledged complete abstinence from alcohol. People were instructed to drink only pure water, and teetotalists were known as the "pure-water army."
The American Temperance Union, which advocated for total abstinence from distilled and fermented liquors, gained 1.5 million members by 1835. However, conflict arose between the teetotalists and more moderate members of the union. The movement became increasingly political during the Victorian period, with proponents of temperance, teetotalism, and eventual prohibition becoming known as the "drys." They aimed to reduce the influence of pubs and brewers through rallies, demonstrations, and marches, urging individuals to sign pledges of allegiance to the temperance society.
The temperance movement was also characterized by its international scope and the organized cooperation of women. The first international temperance organization was the Order of Good Templars, formed in 1851 in Utica, New York. This organization gradually spread worldwide, and in 1909, a World Prohibition Conference in London led to the foundation of an International Prohibition Confederation. In the United States, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was established in Ohio in 1874, and its members believed that educating children about the dangers of alcohol could create a "dry sentiment" leading to prohibition.
The temperance movement played a significant role in the eventual enactment of Prohibition in the United States, which lasted from 1920 to 1933. During this time, the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages were banned nationwide under the Eighteenth Amendment. However, Prohibition had detrimental effects on the economy, leading to job losses and a decline in tax revenues. It also gave rise to bootlegging, speakeasies, and increased crime as people found ways to continue drinking despite the ban.
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Frequently asked questions
In 1851, Maine became the first state to pass a law banning the sale of alcohol.
No, it did not. In 1855, 3000 rioters stormed a Maine city hall looking for illicitly purchased alcohol. This incident, known as the Portland Rum Riot, resulted in one death and several injuries. The law was repealed in 1856.
Yes, after Maine's law, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New York passed prohibition laws. However, all but one were repealed.
Nationwide prohibition in the United States began in 1920 with the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and ended in 1933 with the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment.
