Cecily Zamora
The law of prohibition, also known as the dry crusade, was first presented in the 1840s, led by Pietistic religious groups, especially Methodists. The movement aimed to address societal issues such as alcoholism, domestic violence, and political corruption, which were attributed to alcohol consumption. The first state prohibition law was passed in Maine in 1846, and by 1851, twelve states had followed with total prohibition laws. However, these early attempts at prohibition were met with resistance and had limited success. The movement gained momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the formation of organizations like the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League, and it eventually led to the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919, marking the beginning of the Prohibition Era in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First temperance movement | Initiated by the American Temperance Society in 1826 |
| First temperance movement members | 1.5 million by 1835, with women constituting 35%-60% |
| First state prohibition law | Passed in Maine in 1846 |
| First state to outlaw alcoholic beverages in its Constitution | Kansas in 1881 |
| Eighteenth Amendment ratification | January 16, 1919 |
| Prohibition start date | January 19, 1920 |
| Prohibition end date | 1933 |
| Prohibition duration | 13 years |
| Twenty-first Amendment ratification | 1933 |
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What You'll Learn
The Eighteenth Amendment
The amendment was proposed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified by the requisite number of states on January 16, 1919. It prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating beverages but notably did not outlaw the possession or consumption of alcohol. The amendment came into effect on January 17, 1920, marking the beginning of the Prohibition era in the United States.
One of the most significant outcomes was the rise of illegal alcohol manufacturing and organised crime. Criminal organisations, such as the Chicago Outfit led by Al Capone, profited immensely from underground alcohol sales. Additionally, the illegal liquor trade led to the corruption of law enforcement, with police officers and Prohibition agents succumbing to bribes or joining the bootlegging business themselves. The amendment also resulted in an increase in gambling and prostitution, further changing public perception.
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The Volstead Act
The National Prohibition Act was first proposed by Richmond Hobson and later drafted by attorney Wayne Wheeler of the Anti-Saloon League. The bill was passed by Congress and vetoed by President Woodrow Wilson, but the veto was overridden by Congress. The Act consisted of three main sections: the previously enacted War Time Prohibition Act, Prohibition as designated by the Eighteenth Amendment, and industrial alcohol use.
The War Time Prohibition Act was approved on November 21, 1918, to conserve grain by prohibiting its use in the production of spirits. This was part of the argument for the Volstead Act, which stated that grain was needed to feed the allied nations during World War I, rather than for whiskey production. The Anti-Saloon League also pushed the narrative that saloons were dominated by immigrants, and drinking was pro-German.
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The Anti-Saloon League
The League's primary goal was to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating beverages, including spirits, beer, and wine. They lobbied at all levels of government for legislation to achieve their goals and invented many modern techniques of public relations to mobilize public opinion in favor of a dry, saloonless nation. The League also used emotion-based tactics, appealing to patriotism and anti-German sentiment during World War I.
After the adoption of the Eighteenth Amendment, the League sought strict enforcement of Prohibition laws. However, the Volstead Act, which provided for the enforcement of Prohibition, had numerous loopholes that allowed for the continued availability and consumption of alcohol. The unintended consequences of Prohibition included the growth of illegal liquor trade, corruption among law enforcement agents, and the proliferation of organized crime. By 1933, the Twenty-first Amendment ended Prohibition, though it continued in some states. The Anti-Saloon League ceased to be a significant force in American politics after the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment.
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The temperance movement
The earliest temperance organizations were founded in Saratoga, New York, in 1808, and in Massachusetts in 1813, with the formation of the Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of Intemperance (MSSI). The MSSI encouraged moderation in alcohol consumption and accepted only men of high social standing as members. However, it disbanded in 1820, having little impact on the future of the temperance movement.
The movement gained momentum in the 1820s, popularized by evangelical reformers and the middle classes. The American Temperance Society (ATS), formed in 1826, played a crucial role in initiating the first temperance movement and served as a foundation for many subsequent groups. By 1835, the ATS had reached 1.5 million members, with a significant proportion of women. The movement quickly spread beyond the United States, with the formation of the Ulster Temperance Society in Ireland in 1829, followed by expansion throughout Ireland and Great Britain.
The prohibition movement, also known as the "dry crusade," gained momentum in the 1840s, led by pietistic religious denominations, particularly the Methodists. The focus broadened to include all behaviours and institutions related to alcohol consumption, and the link between liquor-dispensing saloons and political corruption was emphasized. The success of the movement in the 1850s, such as the Maine law banning the manufacture and sale of liquor, was short-lived due to its repeal in 1856. However, the movement continued to organize and gain support, leading to the formation of the Prohibition Party in 1869 and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in 1874.
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The Prohibition era
The roots of the Prohibition era can be traced back to the 19th century, with the formation of the American Temperance Society (ATS) in 1826, which helped initiate the first temperance movement. The movement gained momentum in the 1840s, spearheaded by religious groups, especially the Methodists. The focus of the movement broadened to include all behaviour and institutions related to alcohol consumption, such as saloons. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many communities introduced alcohol bans, and the movement gained a national grassroots base through the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
The enforcement of Prohibition proved challenging, and the Volstead Act, which provided for its enforcement, contained loopholes that allowed for schemes to evade the dry mandate. For example, pharmacists were allowed to dispense whiskey by prescription, and bootleggers took advantage of this by running pharmacies as a front for their illegal operations. The sums of money exchanged during the Prohibition era also proved corrupting for law enforcement, with many police officers and Prohibition agents accepting bribes or becoming bootleggers themselves.
The end of the Prohibition era came with the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment.
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Frequently asked questions
The Prohibition movement, also known as the dry crusade, began in the 1840s, led by pietistic religious denominations, especially the Methodists.
The first state prohibition law was passed in Maine in 1851, banning the manufacture and sale of liquor.
The Eighteenth Amendment, which brought about the Prohibition Era in the United States, was ratified on January 16, 1919.
The Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, was passed in 1933, ending Prohibition in the United States.
No, Prohibition failed to eliminate alcohol from American life. People found loopholes in the law or turned to illegal methods to obtain alcohol, resulting in the emergence of black markets and crime syndicates dedicated to distributing alcohol.
