Eleanor Finch
The Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1919, brought about the Prohibition Era in the United States. The amendment was the result of a long campaign by the temperance movement and the Anti-Saloon League, which argued that banning alcohol would eliminate poverty and improve social issues such as immoral sexual behaviour and violence. The amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors, but not their consumption or possession. It was the only constitutional amendment in American history to be repealed, with the arrival of the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date proposed by Congress | December 18, 1917 |
| Date ratified | January 16, 1919 |
| Date took effect | January 17, 1920 |
| Date repealed | December 5, 1933 |
| Duration in effect | 13 years |
| Prohibited activities | Sale, manufacture, distribution, and transportation of alcohol |
| Permitted activities | Consumption, possession, and production for personal consumption |
| Enforcement legislation | Volstead Act, also known as the National Prohibition Act |
| Enforcement agency | US Treasury Department |
| Impact on alcohol consumption | Initial reduction, followed by increase in illicit consumption |
| Impact on crime | Initial reduction, followed by increase due to illegal alcohol production and distribution |
| Social perception | Positive initially, but became negative by the end of the 1920s |
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What You'll Learn
The Eighteenth Amendment brought about the Prohibition Era in the US
The Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution brought about the Prohibition Era in the US. Proposed by Congress in December 1917 and ratified in January 1919, the amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors. It did not, however, outlaw the possession or consumption of alcohol.
The Eighteenth Amendment was the culmination of decades of efforts by the temperance movement, which included groups like the Anti-Saloon League. These groups believed that banning alcohol would solve many of society's problems, including poverty, immoral sexual behaviour, and violence, and unpatriotic citizenship. They also argued that prohibition would lead to happier families and improved social relationships.
The amendment led to a significant reduction in alcohol consumption, particularly among low-income groups, and a decrease in hospitalizations for alcoholism and liver-related issues. However, it also sparked a surge in illegal alcohol manufacturing, with "rotgut" alcohol produced by underworld entrepreneurs causing as many as 10,000 deaths from methanol poisoning. The rise of organized crime, including the infamous Al Capone, who controlled illegal alcohol production in Chicago, also coincided with the amendment.
The amendment was enforced through legislation like the National Prohibition Act, commonly known as the Volstead Act, which defined the prohibited "intoxicating liquors" and charged the US Treasury Department with enforcement. Despite these measures, illegal alcohol remained widely available, and the amendment was eventually repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933, marking the end of the Prohibition Era.
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The Amendment was proposed by Congress in December 1917
The Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was proposed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified by three-fourths of the states on January 16, 1919. The Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within the United States, but it did not outlaw possession or consumption. The proposal and eventual ratification of the Amendment were the result of decades of efforts by the temperance movement, which argued that banning alcohol would ameliorate societal problems such as poverty, immoral sexual behaviour, and violence. The movement also believed that prohibition would inspire new forms of sociability, create happier families, reduce workplace accidents, and improve the world.
The Anti-Saloon League, founded in 1893 in Oberlin, Ohio, played a significant role in the campaign for prohibition. The League attributed alcohol to almost all of society's problems and ran many campaigns against the sale of alcohol at the local, state, and national levels. The League's efforts were supported by religious coalitions that linked alcohol consumption to immorality, criminality, and, during World War I, unpatriotic citizenship.
The Eighteenth Amendment was also influenced by a powerful political coalition that included racists, progressives, suffragists, populists, and nativists. Each group may have had its own reasons for opposing alcohol, but they used the prohibition impulse to advance ideologies and causes that were not directly related to alcohol consumption. For example, the removal of taxes on alcohol as a source of government revenue, made possible by the introduction of the income tax in 1913, meant that prohibition was now financially feasible.
The Amendment set a one-year delay before it would be operative and a seven-year time limit for its ratification by the states. It was in effect for 13 years before being repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933, making it the only constitutional amendment in American history to be repealed. The immediate effects of the Amendment included a significant reduction in alcohol consumption, particularly among low-income groups, and a decrease in hospitalizations for alcoholism and liver-related issues.
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It was ratified in January 1919
The Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified on January 16, 1919. It was the result of decades of campaigning by the temperance movement and the Anti-Saloon League, which argued that banning alcohol would eliminate poverty and improve social problems such as immoral sexual behaviour and violence. The amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within the United States, but it did not outlaw possession or consumption.
The ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment brought about the Prohibition Era in the United States. The amendment was certified exactly one year after its ratification on January 16, 1920, and took effect immediately. To enforce the amendment, Congress passed the National Prohibition Act, better known as the Volstead Act, on October 28, 1919. The Volstead Act defined which "intoxicating liquors" were forbidden and which were excluded from Prohibition, such as alcoholic beverages used for medical and religious purposes.
The Eighteenth Amendment had a significant impact on alcohol consumption in the United States. There was an initial reduction in alcohol consumption, particularly among low-income groups, and a decrease in hospitalizations for alcoholism and liver-related medical problems. However, this trend was short-lived as illegal alcohol manufacturing and distribution became more prevalent. Criminal organizations, such as the Chicago Outfit led by Al Capone, took control of the underground alcohol trade, and dangerous "rotgut" alcohol produced by careless distilling led to thousands of deaths from methanol poisoning.
While the Eighteenth Amendment was intended to address societal issues related to alcohol consumption, it had unintended consequences. The rise of illegal alcohol production and distribution created a new category of crimes, and law enforcement struggled to keep up with the proliferation of speakeasies, bootlegging, and distilling operations. Prisons became crowded, and the murder rate initially fell but then rose to record highs due to gangland killings. Public perception of the amendment shifted from positive to negative by the end of the 1920s, and it was eventually repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933, marking the end of the Prohibition Era.
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The Amendment was repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933
The Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment on 5 December 1933, ending Prohibition. This made it the only constitutional amendment in American history to be repealed in its entirety.
The Eighteenth Amendment, which banned the production, transport, and sale of intoxicating liquors, was the result of a long campaign by the temperance movement, which argued that prohibition would reduce social problems such as poverty, immoral sexual behaviour, and violence. It was also supported by religious coalitions that linked alcohol to immorality and criminality.
However, the amendment had unintended consequences. While there was a reduction in alcohol consumption, particularly among low-income groups, there was also a surge in illegal alcohol manufacturing and organised crime. Criminal organisations, such as Al Capone's Chicago Outfit, made millions from underground alcohol sales. Prohibition also led to an increase in gambling and prostitution, and public perception of the amendment became negative.
In March 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison Act, which amended the Volstead Act and permitted the manufacturing and sale of low-alcohol beer and wine. This was followed by the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed federal prohibition and allowed states and localities to decide on prohibition for themselves.
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The National Prohibition Act was passed to enforce the Amendment
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on January 16, 1919, brought about the Prohibition Era in the country. The Amendment prohibited "the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors" but did not outlaw possession, consumption, or personal production of alcohol. The National Prohibition Act, also known as the Volstead Act, was passed on October 28, 1919, to enforce and define the Amendment's language.
The Volstead Act set the commencement date for nationwide prohibition as January 17, 1920, the earliest date allowed by the Eighteenth Amendment. The Act charged the US Treasury Department with enforcing the new restrictions and defining which "intoxicating liquors" were forbidden and which were excluded, such as alcoholic beverages for medical and religious purposes. The legislation that became the National Prohibition Act was introduced by Wayne Wheeler, a leader of the Anti-Saloon League, a group that attributed society's problems to alcohol and campaigned against its sale.
The Eighteenth Amendment was the culmination of decades of efforts by the temperance movement, which argued that banning alcohol would improve various societal issues, including poverty and immoral behaviour. The Amendment was also supported by a diverse political coalition, including racists, progressives, suffragists, populists, and nativists, each with their own ideologies and causes. The Anti-Saloon League and religious coalitions were key supporters of prohibition, linking alcohol to unpatriotic citizenship, immorality, and criminality.
The immediate impact of the Eighteenth Amendment was a decrease in alcohol consumption, particularly among low-income groups, and a reduction in alcohol-related hospitalizations and liver-related medical issues. However, the rise of illegal alcohol production, such as home distilling, led to dangerous "rotgut" alcohol and methanol poisoning. The Amendment also created a new category of crimes involving alcohol production and distribution, with criminal organizations like Al Capone's Chicago Outfit profiting from underground sales.
The National Prohibition Act, or Volstead Act, was passed to provide clear guidelines and enforcement mechanisms for the Eighteenth Amendment, ensuring that the prohibition of alcohol was effectively implemented and enforced across the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
The Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution established the prohibition of alcohol in the United States. It prohibited "the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors" but not the consumption, private possession, or production for one’s own consumption.
The Eighteenth Amendment led to a significant reduction in alcohol consumption, particularly among low-income groups. There were also fewer hospitalizations for alcoholism and liver-related medical problems. However, it also resulted in a sudden surge of illegal alcohol manufacturing, bootlegging, and moonshining, with criminal organizations increasing their involvement in the production and distribution of alcohol.
The Eighteenth Amendment was ratified on January 16, 1919, and took effect on January 16, 1920. It was in effect for 13 years before being repealed on December 5, 1933, by the Twenty-first Amendment, which allowed states and localities to maintain prohibition if they so chose.
