Lena Savoie
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which established the prohibition of alcohol, was proposed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified by 36 states on January 16, 1919. Prior to the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment, many state legislatures had already enacted laws against the sale and manufacture of alcohol. By 1916, 23 out of 48 states had passed laws against saloons, and some had even banned the manufacture of alcohol. The Eighteenth Amendment was the product of nationwide temperance movements that first emerged in the decades after the Founding and steadily gained influence during the Progressive Era, which lasted from the 1890s to the 1920s.
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What You'll Learn
The Eighteenth Amendment's impact on state powers
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established the prohibition of alcohol in the United States. The amendment was proposed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified by the requisite number of states on January 16, 1919. The Eighteenth Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes within the United States. It also forbade the importation of beverage liquor into the United States or its exportation.
The Eighteenth Amendment had a significant impact on state powers. Firstly, it superseded the many state and regional restrictions that were already in place. By 1916, 23 out of 48 states had already passed laws against saloons, with some even banning the manufacture of alcohol. The amendment, therefore, federalized what had previously been a state-level issue.
Secondly, the amendment granted Congress and the state legislatures concurrent power to enforce Prohibition by enacting appropriate legislation. This meant that both Congress and the states had the authority to enforce the amendment, with the states having the power to augment the federal government's enforcement efforts with potentially stricter requirements. This interpretation of concurrent power was upheld by the Supreme Court, which held that the Eighteenth Amendment gave the federal government broad power to enforce Prohibition, even with respect to activities conducted within a single state.
Thirdly, the Eighteenth Amendment and its enabling legislation, the Volstead Act, were controversial because they empowered the federal government to police activities that had traditionally been led by state and local governments. The Volstead Act, for example, set a stringent definition of intoxicating liquors that included beer and light wines, in addition to distilled alcoholic beverages. This federal legislation intruded on individual social habits and morality, which had previously been the domain of state and local governments.
Finally, the Eighteenth Amendment had a lasting impact on state powers even after its repeal by the Twenty-First Amendment in 1933. The Twenty-First Amendment was interpreted as giving states the authority to regulate their own prohibitory practices, leading to modern-day policies that vary across the country.
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Temperance movements
The Eighteenth Amendment, which established the prohibition of alcohol in the United States, was the culmination of decades of efforts by the temperance movement. Temperance organisations played an essential role in bringing about the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.
The temperance movement in the United States sought to curb or moderate the consumption of alcohol. It had a large influence on American politics and society in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The movement was born with Benjamin Rush's 1784 tract, "An Inquiry Into the Effects of Ardent Spirits Upon the Human Body and Mind", which argued that excessive alcohol use was detrimental to physical and psychological health. In response to this, about 200 farmers in a Connecticut community formed a temperance association in 1789 to ban the making of whiskey. Similar associations were formed in Virginia in 1800 and New York State in 1808. Over the next decade, other temperance organisations were formed in eight states, some being statewide organisations. The young movement allowed for moderate drinking, but many leaders expanded their activities to take positions on other moral issues, such as the observance of the Sabbath. By the early 1820s, political infighting had stalled the movement, but some leaders continued to press their cause forward.
Temperance birthed a genre of theatre that contributed to its growth and helped it enter the mainstream. The first significant temperance drama, "Fifteen Years of a Drunkard's Life", written by Douglas Jerrold in 1841, followed by "The Drunkard" by W.H. Smith in 1841, which ran for 144 performances in Boston before moving to Broadway and continued to be a staple of New York's theatre scene until 1875. These plays followed a typical format: the main character experiences an alcohol-induced downfall but restores their life once they denounce drinking.
The country's first serious anti-alcohol movement emerged in the 1830s and 1840s, with many abolitionists fighting to rid the country of slavery coming to view alcohol as an equally great evil. The movement, rooted in America's Protestant churches, first urged moderation before encouraging drinkers to help each other resist temptation and ultimately demanding that governments prohibit alcohol outright.
The Progressive Era, which lasted from the 1890s to the 1920s, was a period of increased political activism and social reform in the United States, with the temperance movement gaining influence during this time. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), led by Frances Willard, lobbied for local laws restricting alcohol and created an anti-alcohol educational campaign that reached nearly every schoolroom in the nation. WCTU members viewed alcohol as the underlying source of various social issues and found common cause with Progressives trying to improve living conditions for immigrants, protect children's rights, improve public education, and secure women's rights. The WCTU's ultimate goal of a prohibition amendment still seemed out of reach, but the organisation became a force to be reckoned with, enhanced by its alliance with Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and other women battling for the vote.
By 1916, 23 of 48 states had already passed laws against saloons, and some even banned the manufacture of alcohol. The Eighteenth Amendment was proposed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified by the requisite number of states on January 16, 1919, taking effect on January 16, 1920. However, it did not outlaw the consumption of alcohol or its possession, and nationwide enforcement proved difficult, with alcohol smuggling and illicit bars becoming popular. Public sentiment turned against Prohibition during the 1920s, and Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1932 presidential campaign included a plan for repealing the amendment, leading to its end. The Eighteenth Amendment was repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933.
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The role of religion
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union, with its 6,000 local societies across multiple states, was another influential force. Well-known reformers like Carrie Nation became household names for their militant actions against alcohol. Additionally, the Anti-Saloon League, which was instrumental in the early 20th-century push for prohibition, also drew significant support from these religious groups.
Religious beliefs and values influenced individual behaviours and attitudes towards alcohol. For example, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and The Church of the Nazarene, all Christian churches, prohibit the consumption of alcohol. In Hinduism, while there is no central authority, religious texts like the Vedas and Upanishads generally discourage alcohol consumption, and Brahmins are forbidden from drinking. Islam strictly prohibits alcohol consumption, reflecting its foundational role in shaping Muslim identity.
On the other hand, liturgical churches, such as Catholic, Episcopal, and German Lutheran, opposed prohibition laws because they did not want the government to criminalize the liturgical practice of using wine. Additionally, the Eighteenth Amendment and its enabling legislation, the Volstead Act, allowed the licensed production, use, and sale of alcohol for religious purposes, among other exceptions.
It is worth noting that the relationship between religion and alcohol is complex and varies across different traditions. While some religions strictly prohibit alcohol consumption, others incorporate it into their rituals and ceremonies.
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The Volstead Act
The enactment of the Volstead Act proved challenging for law enforcement, with people finding clever ways to evade Prohibition agents, such as carrying hip flasks and hollowed canes. Neither federal nor local authorities fully committed to enforcing the act, and open rebellion and organized crime became more prevalent. Public sentiment turned against Prohibition during the late 1920s, and the Great Depression further hastened its demise, with opponents arguing that the ban denied jobs and revenue to the government.
In 1932, Democratic presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt included a plan to repeal the 18th Amendment in his platform, and his victory led to the end of Prohibition. The 21st Amendment, ratified on December 5, 1933, repealed the 18th Amendment and modified the Volstead Act to permit the sale of beer.
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Public sentiment and the end of Prohibition
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which established the prohibition of alcohol in the country, was proposed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified on January 16, 1919. The amendment was the culmination of decades of efforts by the temperance movement, which argued that banning the sale of alcohol would improve societal issues such as poverty. The movement gained momentum during the Progressive Era, a period of increased political activism and social reform in the United States.
However, by the late 1920s, public sentiment had turned against Prohibition. The enforcement of the ban proved challenging, particularly in cities, where alcohol smuggling ("rum-running" or "bootlegging") and illicit bars ("speakeasies") became prevalent. The Volstead Act, which enforced the Eighteenth Amendment, was stricter than most Americans had anticipated, as it included wine and beer in the prohibition. This led to a thriving black market for alcohol, which had negative consequences for public health. As the illegal alcohol trade became more lucrative, the quality of alcohol declined, leading to an average of 1,000 Americans dying annually from consuming tainted liquor during Prohibition.
The negative impact of Prohibition on law enforcement also contributed to the shift in public sentiment. The large sums of money exchanged during the era corrupted federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, with many succumbing to bribes or joining the bootlegging business themselves. This undermined public trust in law enforcement during the Prohibition era.
Additionally, opponents of Prohibition argued that the ban on alcohol denied jobs to the unemployed during the Great Depression and resulted in a loss of revenue for the government. The efforts of the nonpartisan Association Against the Prohibition Amendment (AAPA) further added to public disillusionment. In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic presidential candidate, included a plan to repeal the Eighteenth Amendment in his platform, and his victory that November sealed the fate of Prohibition.
On February 1933, Congress proposed the Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment and modified the Volstead Act to permit the sale of beer. The Twenty-first Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, marking the end of Prohibition in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
By 1916, 23 out of 48 states had already passed laws against saloons, with some even banning the manufacture of alcohol. These states included:
- Kansas
- Maine
- Vermont
- North Dakota
- Texas
- Nebraska
The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution established the prohibition of alcohol in the United States. It was proposed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified by the requisite number of states on January 16, 1919.
The 18th Amendment led to a significant reduction in alcohol consumption among the general public, particularly in low-income groups. There were also fewer hospitalizations for alcoholism and liver-related medical problems.
The 18th Amendment was the product of nationwide temperance movements that first emerged in the decades after the Founding and steadily grew in influence during the Progressive Era. Temperance groups argued that a ban on the sale of alcohol would ameliorate poverty and other societal problems.
