Eleanor Finch
The Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, was proposed by the 72nd Congress on February 20, 1933, and was officially ratified and added to the Constitution on December 5, 1933, when Utah's state convention unanimously ratified the amendment. The Eighteenth Amendment had prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors, but the Twenty-first Amendment ended national prohibition and granted states greater power in regulating alcohol within and across their borders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date proposed by Congress | February 20, 1933 |
| Date ratified | December 5, 1933 |
| Unique characteristics | Only amendment to repeal a previous amendment; only amendment ratified by state ratifying conventions |
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What You'll Learn
The Twenty-first Amendment was proposed on February 20, 1933
The Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution was proposed by the 72nd Congress on February 20, 1933. It was aimed at repealing the Eighteenth Amendment, which had mandated a nationwide prohibition on alcohol. The Eighteenth Amendment had been ratified on January 16, 1919, after years of advocacy by the temperance movement. However, by the early 1930s, public opinion had turned against prohibition, and a political movement for its repeal had emerged. Despite this shift in public sentiment, the political power of the temperance lobby remained strong in many states.
The Twenty-first Amendment was unique among the amendments to the U.S. Constitution for two reasons. Firstly, it was the only amendment to repeal a prior amendment. Secondly, it was the only amendment ratified by state ratifying conventions, specifically selected for this purpose, rather than by state legislatures. The use of state ratifying conventions was necessary to overcome the political influence of the temperance lobby at the state level.
The Twenty-first Amendment was officially added to the U.S. Constitution on December 5, 1933, when Utah's state convention unanimously ratified the amendment. This ended national prohibition and granted states greater authority to regulate alcohol within their borders. The amendment allowed states to control the transportation and importation of alcohol, as long as they did not violate the commerce clause of the Constitution.
The Twenty-first Amendment had a significant impact on alcohol regulation in the United States. It gave states the power to legislate and regulate alcohol, a power that continues to be exercised by many states today. The amendment also played a role in shaping the interpretation of other constitutional provisions, such as the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Freedom of Speech Clause of the First Amendment.
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It was ratified on December 5, 1933
The Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 5, 1933. It was proposed by the 72nd Congress on February 20, 1933, and was ratified by the requisite number of states on December 5, 1933. This amendment is unique for two reasons. Firstly, it is the only amendment to repeal a prior amendment, namely, the Eighteenth Amendment, which had mandated nationwide prohibition on alcohol. Secondly, it is the only amendment to have been ratified by state ratifying conventions, specifically selected for the purpose, rather than the legislatures of the states.
The Twenty-first Amendment was adopted because Americans believed that the negative effects of the "noble experiment" with alcohol prohibition outweighed any benefits. As more and more Americans opposed the Eighteenth Amendment, a political movement grew for its repeal. The Twenty-first Amendment officially repealed federal prohibition and ended national prohibition. It also granted states greater autonomy in regulating alcohol within and across their borders.
The amendment was officially added to the U.S. Constitution on December 5, 1933, when Utah's state convention unanimously ratified it. Subsequently, it was ratified by conventions in other states. Notably, on December 4, 1933, South Carolina's state convention unanimously rejected the amendment, and on November 7, 1933, approximately 70% of North Carolina voters rejected holding a convention to consider the amendment.
The Twenty-first Amendment is significant for its impact on the interpretation of other provisions of the Constitution. For example, litigation has centred on its effect on the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Freedom of Speech Clause of the First Amendment.
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The amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment
The 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution was proposed by the 72nd Congress on February 20, 1933, and was ratified on December 5, 1933. It repealed the 18th Amendment, which had mandated a nationwide prohibition on alcohol. The 21st Amendment is unique in two ways: it is the only amendment that has specifically repealed another amendment, and it is the only amendment ratified by state ratifying conventions, rather than the legislatures of the states.
The 18th Amendment was ratified on January 16, 1919, after years of advocacy by the temperance movement. The subsequent enactment of the Volstead Act established federal enforcement of the nationwide prohibition on alcohol. Despite the amendment, many Americans continued to drink, leading to the rise of a profitable black market for alcohol, which fuelled the growth of organised crime. As opposition to the 18th Amendment grew, a political movement for its repeal emerged. However, repeal was complicated by grassroots politics, as the lawmakers of many states were either influenced by or fearful of the temperance lobby.
The 21st Amendment, also known as the Blaine Act, was proposed as a solution to this complicated political situation. It ended national prohibition and granted states greater autonomy in regulating alcohol within and across their borders. The amendment prohibited the transportation or importation of intoxicating liquors into any state, territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use, in violation of the laws thereof.
The 21st Amendment was officially added to the U.S. Constitution on December 5, 1933, when Utah's state convention unanimously ratified it. The amendment was subsequently ratified by conventions in several other states.
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It is the only amendment to repeal a previous amendment
The Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, was proposed by the 72nd Congress on February 20, 1933, and was ratified by the requisite number of states on December 5, 1933. The Eighteenth Amendment had mandated a nationwide prohibition on alcohol, which was ratified on January 16, 1919, after years of advocacy by the temperance movement.
The Twenty-first Amendment is unique among the 27 amendments of the U.S. Constitution for being the only one to repeal a prior amendment. It is also the only amendment to have been ratified by state ratifying conventions. The Eighteenth Amendment, which ushered in a period known as Prohibition, made the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages illegal. However, Prohibition proved to be highly unpopular, with many Americans continuing to drink despite the amendment. This gave rise to a profitable black market for alcohol, fueling the rise of organized crime.
As more and more Americans opposed the Eighteenth Amendment, a political movement grew for its repeal. However, repeal was complicated by grassroots politics and the influence of the temperance lobby. The Twenty-first Amendment, which ended national prohibition, was officially added to the U.S. Constitution on December 5, 1933, when Utah's state convention unanimously ratified the amendment. The amendment was subsequently ratified by conventions in several other states.
The Twenty-first Amendment is significant not only for being the sole amendment to repeal a previous amendment but also for its impact on alcohol regulation and its place in U.S. history. It demonstrates the changing social and political landscape of the country during the early 20th century.
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The Eighteenth Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was ratified on January 16, 1919, prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol within the United States. The amendment was the culmination of a nationwide temperance movement that had been gaining momentum since the Progressive Era of the 1890s to 1920s. During this period, social reform and political activism were on the rise, and many Americans began to view alcohol consumption in a more negative light.
The Eighteenth Amendment, also known as the Prohibition of Liquor, specifically forbade the manufacture, sale, or transportation of "intoxicating liquors" for beverage purposes within the United States. It also prohibited the importation or exportation of beverage liquor into or from the country. To enforce this amendment, the Volstead Act was enacted, which further defined "intoxicating liquors" as beverages containing 0.5% or greater alcohol by volume. This included not just distilled spirits but also beer and light wines.
While the Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act did not explicitly prohibit drinking or purchasing alcoholic beverages, they had a significant impact on the social and economic landscape of the United States. The federal government was now empowered to police individual social habits and morality, a role that had traditionally been led by state and local governments. This shift in authority fueled tensions between federal and state powers.
Despite the amendment, many Americans continued to drink, leading to a thriving black market for alcohol. This, in turn, fueled the rise of organized crime. As public sentiment turned against the amendment, a political movement for its repeal gained traction. However, the repeal process was complicated by grassroots politics and the influence of the temperance lobby.
Finally, on February 20, 1933, the 72nd Congress proposed the Twenty-first Amendment, which was ratified on December 5, 1933. This amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, bringing an end to the nationwide prohibition on alcohol. The Twenty-first Amendment is unique in that it is the only amendment to repeal a prior amendment and the only one ratified by state ratifying conventions.
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