Jonah Patel
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which came into effect in 1919, established the prohibition of alcohol. This was the result of years of advocacy by the temperance movement, which argued that a ban on alcohol would reduce social issues such as poverty, political corruption, domestic violence, and prostitution. However, the amendment proved to be highly unpopular, with many Americans continuing to drink and a thriving black market for alcohol developing, leading to a rise in organised crime. The Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, was proposed in 1933 and ratified by the end of the same year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Eighteenth Amendment | Established the prohibition of alcohol in the United States |
| Eighteenth Amendment Ratification Date | 16 January 1919 |
| Eighteenth Amendment Effect | A sudden surge of illegal alcohol manufacturing, such as rum-running, bootlegging, and moonshining |
| Twenty-first Amendment | Repealed the Eighteenth Amendment |
| Twenty-first Amendment Ratification Date | 5 December 1933 |
| Twenty-first Amendment Effect | Ended Prohibition, but Section 2 implies that states are in charge of regulating alcohol |
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What You'll Learn
The Eighteenth Amendment
In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt called for the repeal of Prohibition, and in March 1933, shortly after taking office as president, he signed the Cullen-Harrison Act, which amended the Volstead Act, permitting the manufacturing and sale of low-alcohol beer and wines. Nine months later, on December 5, 1933, federal prohibition was repealed with the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment. The Eighteenth Amendment is the only amendment to have secured ratification and later been repealed.
Amending the Constitution: Our Living, Breathing Document
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The Twenty-first Amendment
The Eighteenth Amendment was the result of decades of efforts by the temperance movement, which argued that a ban on alcohol would help eliminate societal problems such as poverty, political corruption, domestic violence, and prostitution. The amendment was ratified on January 16, 1919, and the subsequent enactment of the Volstead Act established federal enforcement of the nationwide prohibition on alcohol.
However, the Eighteenth Amendment proved to be highly unpopular and ultimately ineffective. While the immediate impact of prohibition appeared positive, with a decline in alcohol-related crimes, illegal alcohol production soon increased to meet rising demand. This led to a profitable black market for alcohol, fuelling the rise of organised crime syndicates such as the Chicago Outfit led by Al Capone. These criminal organisations bribed businesses, political leaders, and police departments, effectively crippling law enforcement's ability to enforce prohibition.
As a result, a political movement grew for the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. On February 20, 1933, Congress proposed the Twenty-first Amendment, which was ratified on December 5, 1933. The Twenty-first Amendment is unique among the U.S. Constitution's amendments for being the only one to repeal a prior amendment and the only one ratified by state ratifying conventions.
Section 1 of the Twenty-first Amendment expressly repeals the Eighteenth Amendment, while Section 2 bans the importation of alcohol into states and territories that prohibit it. The amendment also implies that states have the authority to regulate the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol. In the decades since its ratification, the Twenty-first Amendment has been the subject of several Supreme Court decisions regarding the regulation of alcohol and the Commerce Clause.
The Constitution's Evolution: Amendments and Their Authors
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The Volstead Act
The Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1919, ushered in a period of Prohibition, during which the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages was illegal. The enactment of the Eighteenth Amendment was the culmination of years of advocacy by the temperance movement, which had sought to convince people to abstain from drinking. The Anti-Saloon League, formed in 1893, became a powerful political force in passing a national ban on alcohol, arguing that drinking was pro-German and exploiting the prejudice and suspicion of foreigners following World War I.
- War Prohibition, which prohibited the use of grain in the production of spirits to conserve resources for the war effort;
- Prohibition as designated by the Eighteenth Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages; and
- Industrial alcohol use, which allowed for the use of alcohol for industrial purposes.
Ultimately, the Twenty-first Amendment, ratified in 1933, repealed the Eighteenth Amendment and ended Prohibition. This amendment was unique in that it was the only amendment to have been ratified by state ratifying conventions and the first to repeal a prior amendment.
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The Temperance Movement
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Temperance Movement gained prominence in many countries, particularly English-speaking, Scandinavian, and majority Protestant ones. It led to national prohibitions in Canada (1918-1920), Norway (1919-1926, spirits only), Finland (1919-1932), and the United States (1920-1933), as well as provincial prohibition in India (1948 to the present).
The Twenty-first Amendment, ratified in 1933, repealed the Eighteenth Amendment and ended Prohibition. However, the Twenty-first Amendment is unique in that it is the only amendment to have been ratified by state ratifying conventions, and it gave states the power to regulate alcohol, with some states remaining "dry states" even today.
Congress Approved Amendments: A Historical Timeline
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The Prohibition Era
In the early years of the 1920s, the Prohibition Era appeared to have positive effects, with a decline in alcohol-related crimes. However, as the decade progressed, illegal alcohol production increased to meet rising demand, and prices for illicit beverages decreased. The illegal alcohol industry also became increasingly tied to organised crime groups, such as the Chicago Outfit led by Al Capone, who bribed businesses, political leaders, and police departments. This led to widespread corruption and the enforcement of Prohibition becoming increasingly difficult.
As a result of the ineffectiveness of Prohibition and its unintended negative consequences, a political movement grew in support of its repeal. On February 20, 1933, Congress proposed the Twenty-first Amendment to the Constitution, which would repeal the Eighteenth Amendment. The Twenty-first Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, and it uniquely repealed a prior amendment and was the first amendment ratified by state ratifying conventions. The Twenty-first Amendment returned the regulation of alcohol to the states, and while many states lifted their Prohibition-era laws soon after, some continued as "dry states" and closely regulated alcohol distribution. Mississippi was the last state to lift all its Prohibition-era laws in 1966, and Kansas lifted its ban on public bars in 1987.
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Frequently asked questions
The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, ratified on January 16, 1919, brought about the Prohibition Era in the US. It prohibited the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages.
The Twenty-first Amendment, ratified on December 5, 1933, ended the Prohibition Era by repealing the Eighteenth Amendment.
The Eighteenth Amendment was largely unsuccessful in preventing the mass distribution and consumption of alcohol. It inadvertently caused a rise in organised crime, with criminal organisations taking control of the illegal alcohol trade. It also led to an increase in gambling and prostitution.
