Eleanor Finch
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was ratified on January 16, 1919, established a nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. This amendment, which was the result of decades of advocacy by the temperance movement, ushered in the Prohibition Era. However, Prohibition was highly unpopular, and the rise of organised crime saw public sentiment turn against it by the late 1920s. The Twenty-first Amendment, proposed by Congress in February 1933, repealed the Eighteenth Amendment and brought an end to Prohibition. It was ratified on December 5, 1933, and is unique among the US Constitution's amendments for being the only one to repeal a previous amendment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Eighteenth Amendment | Started Prohibition |
| Twenty-first Amendment | Ended Prohibition |
| Date Eighteenth Amendment was proposed | December 18, 1917 |
| Date Eighteenth Amendment was ratified | January 16, 1919 |
| Date Twenty-first Amendment was proposed | February 20, 1933 |
| Date Twenty-first Amendment was ratified | December 5, 1933 |
| Number of states that ratified the Eighteenth Amendment | 36 |
| Last state to lift Prohibition laws | Mississippi, 1966 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Eighteenth Amendment, ratified in 1919, banned the sale, manufacture, distribution and transportation of alcohol
- The temperance movement, which campaigned for the Eighteenth Amendment, believed banning alcohol would reduce societal issues
- The Eighteenth Amendment was repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933
- The Twenty-first Amendment is unique for being the only amendment to repeal a previous amendment
- The Twenty-first Amendment was ratified by state conventions, not state legislatures
The Eighteenth Amendment, ratified in 1919, banned the sale, manufacture, distribution and transportation of alcohol
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on January 16, 1919, brought about the Prohibition Era. The amendment was the result of years of advocacy by the temperance movement, which argued that banning the sale of alcohol would help eliminate societal problems such as poverty, political corruption, domestic violence, and prostitution. The amendment banned the manufacture, distribution, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes within the United States and its territories. It is important to note that the amendment did not outlaw the consumption, possession, or production of alcohol for private and personal use.
The Eighteenth Amendment had significant and far-reaching impacts on American society. One of its most notable consequences was the sudden surge in illegal alcohol manufacturing and distribution, giving rise to a profitable black market. This led to an increase in organised crime, with criminal organisations such as Al Capone's Chicago Outfit making millions from underground alcohol sales. The amendment also inadvertently contributed to an increase in other illegal activities such as gambling and prostitution, further changing public perception of the amendment.
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 act made distinctions between the illegality of alcohol for consumption while authorising it for scientific, religious, and industrial purposes. However, the Volstead Act proved largely ineffective in preventing the mass distribution of alcoholic beverages, and corruption was rife among law enforcement agencies.
As public sentiment turned against Prohibition by the late 1920s, anti-prohibition groups worked towards repealing the amendment. The Great Depression further hastened its demise, as opponents argued that the ban on alcohol denied jobs and revenue to the government. The Twenty-first Amendment, proposed by Congress on February 20, 1933, and ratified on December 5, 1933, officially repealed the Eighteenth Amendment. This amendment was unique in being the only amendment to repeal a prior amendment and in its method of ratification by state ratifying conventions.
The Twenty-first Amendment expressly repealed the nationwide prohibition on alcohol established by the Eighteenth Amendment. While some states continued to be ""dry states" and closely regulate alcohol even after the repeal, the end of Prohibition was thought to have created half a million jobs. The Twenty-first Amendment is also notable for the various responses it evoked from different states, with some delegating their power to ban alcohol importation to counties and municipalities, resulting in numerous dry communities across the United States.
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The temperance movement, which campaigned for the Eighteenth Amendment, believed banning alcohol would reduce societal issues
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which established a nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol, was the culmination of decades of campaigning by the temperance movement. This movement, which began in the early 1800s, was driven by the belief that banning alcohol would reduce societal issues such as poverty, political corruption, domestic violence, and prostitution.
The temperance movement in the United States had its roots in the early 19th century, with the formation of organisations such as the Union Temperance Society of Moreau and Northumberland, New York, in 1808. The movement gained momentum in the 1820s, with the creation of the American Society of Temperance in 1826 by clergymen, who spread their anti-drink message through their religious networks. By the 1830s, the movement had diversified and fragmented, with fierce debates about its tactics and ultimate goals. Radicals pushed for a complete ban on all alcoholic beverages, while moderates favoured exempting beer and wine, praising them as "temperance drinks".
The movement gained a large following, with membership nearly doubling between 1831 and 1833, and by 1835, 1.5 million people out of a total population of 13 million had vowed never to consume hard liquor again. The temperance movement also overlapped with religious groups, with many Protestant and Catholic churches allying with the Anti-Saloon League by the beginning of the 20th century. These religious groups argued that prohibition would help eliminate societal issues such as political corruption, domestic violence, and prostitution, which they believed were caused by alcohol consumption.
The temperance movement's efforts culminated in the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919, which established Prohibition and banned the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. However, the amendment did not outlaw the consumption of alcohol or its production for private, personal use. The National Prohibition Act, also known as the Volstead Act, was passed in 1919 to enforce and define the amendment's language, and it specified that liquor, wine, and beer were prohibited.
While the Eighteenth Amendment did lead to a decline in alcohol consumption, particularly among low-income groups, it also had unintended consequences. Crime rates soared as gangsters, such as Al Capone, profited from the illegal production and sale of alcohol, and corruption was rife among law enforcement agencies. Ultimately, the amendment was repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933, which undid the nationwide ban on alcohol and allowed states to regulate alcohol according to their own preferences.
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The Eighteenth Amendment was repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933
The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1919, brought about the Prohibition Era in the United States. The amendment was the result of a long temperance movement, which aimed to ban the sale, manufacture, distribution, and transportation of alcohol across the country. While the amendment did not outlaw the consumption of alcohol, it led to a surge in illegal alcohol manufacturing and organised crime. The rise of gangsters like Al Capone, who profited from the black market for alcohol, and the inability of law enforcement to curb the tide, soon turned public opinion against the amendment.
By the late 1920s, public sentiment had turned against Prohibition, and the Great Depression further hastened its demise. Opponents argued that the ban on alcohol denied jobs to the unemployed and revenue to the government. The nonpartisan Association Against the Prohibition Amendment (AAPA) also added to public disillusionment. In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic presidential candidate, included a plan for repealing the 18th Amendment in his platform, and his victory that November led to the end of Prohibition.
On February 20, 1933, Congress initiated the process of ending Prohibition by proposing the Twenty-first Amendment, which would repeal the Eighteenth Amendment. This was the first time in history that an amendment was sent out for ratification by state ratifying conventions instead of state legislatures. The Twenty-first Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, officially ending Prohibition and becoming the only amendment to repeal a prior amendment.
The Twenty-first Amendment is also unique in the way it was ratified, with Utah being the final state to ratify the amendment. While the Eighteenth Amendment was fully repealed in 1933, some states continued to be "dry states", and a few states continue to closely regulate the distribution of alcohol today.
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The Twenty-first Amendment is unique for being the only amendment to repeal a previous amendment
The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, ratified on January 16, 1919, brought about the Prohibition Era in the United States. It mandated a nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. However, it soon proved to be highly unpopular, with many Americans continuing to drink, leading to a thriving black market for alcohol and the rise of organised crime.
The Twenty-first Amendment, proposed by the 72nd Congress on February 20, 1933, and ratified on December 5, 1933, expressly repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, bringing an end to Prohibition. It is unique among the 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution for being the only amendment to repeal a prior amendment. This was due to the unpopularity of Prohibition and the rise of organised crime, as well as the complexity of repealing the Eighteenth Amendment due to grassroots politics and the power of the temperance lobby.
The Twenty-first Amendment is also unique in the way it was ratified. For the first time, the amendment was sent out for ratification by state ratifying conventions, rather than the more common method of state legislatures. This was because, although prohibition of alcohol had lost support by the early 1930s, the political power of the temperance lobby remained strong in many states.
The Twenty-first Amendment not only repealed the Eighteenth Amendment but also included a section banning the importation of alcohol into states and territories that continued to prohibit the consumption of alcohol. Several states continued to be "dry states" after the repeal, and some still closely regulate alcohol distribution today.
The Twenty-first Amendment had a significant impact on the country, with President Roosevelt issuing a proclamation urging Americans to practise temperance and not bring "the curse of excessive use of intoxicating liquors to the detriment of health, morals and social integrity." The end of Prohibition was also thought to have created half a million jobs.
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The Twenty-first Amendment was ratified by state conventions, not state legislatures
The Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified on January 16, 1919, ushered in the Prohibition Era, during which the manufacture, distribution, sale, and transportation of alcohol for beverage purposes were banned. The temperance movement had been advocating for such a ban for years, and it was supported by many Protestant and Catholic churches on moral and religious grounds. However, the Eighteenth Amendment proved to be highly unpopular, with many Americans continuing to drink despite the ban. This led to a surge in illegal alcohol manufacturing and a profitable black market that fuelled the rise of organised crime, including the infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone.
The Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, was proposed by the 72nd Congress on February 20, 1933, and ratified by state conventions on December 5, 1933. Notably, it was the first and only amendment to be ratified by state conventions rather than state legislatures. This unusual method of ratification was likely chosen due to the political power of the temperance lobby, which remained strong even as public opinion turned against Prohibition. By opting for ratification by convention delegates, legislators who were wary of the lobby's wrath could avoid the issue altogether.
The Twenty-first Amendment is also unique among the 27 amendments of the US Constitution for being the only one to repeal a prior amendment. It expressly repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, ending the nationwide prohibition on alcohol and granting states greater autonomy in regulating alcohol within and across their borders. However, several states continued to be "dry states" even after the repeal, and some still closely regulate alcohol distribution today.
The end of Prohibition was celebrated by many, and it was thought to have created half a million jobs. However, the Twenty-first Amendment did not restore the status quo before Prohibition. Instead, its second section has been interpreted as giving states broad authority over the regulation of alcoholic beverages, limiting the power of the national government to intrude upon state alcohol control policies. This has occasionally led to Supreme Court cases involving the Commerce Clause.
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Frequently asked questions
The Eighteenth Amendment started prohibition and the Twenty-first Amendment ended it.
The Eighteenth Amendment was ratified on January 16, 1919.
The Eighteenth Amendment banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol across the United States.
The Twenty-first Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933.
The Twenty-first Amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, ending prohibition.
