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18th Amendment
People want to ban alcohol entirely and stop it from ever being used again. They felt that if you used alcohol, you were participating in the devil's activities. Many people felt like alcohol was destroying the country. -
Banned
The 18th Amendment banned alcohol from being sold and used in 1919, which left many people very angry. Many people felt this wasn't a good decision and should have never happened. -
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Bootleggers
Whenever alcohol had been banned, it left lots of people outraged, and they still wanted to drink it. This would lead to people smuggling it and selling it. This was a super risky job, but it paid very well. This had started in the 1920s and would continue on until alcohol was unbanned. They would get this alcohol by trading stuff with the Native Americans. -
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was very unexpected at this time, and the banks were not expecting something like this to ever happen. This would leave many people going bankrupt. Also, there was a big repeal of the prohibition to create more jobs, which would help stimulate the economy. Many people put their money in stocks at this time, and the stock market crashed. -
Roosevelt’s Presidential Campaign
At this time, America needed an answer badly, and Franklin D. Roosevelt said he would be the answer. The country's economy at this time was terrible, and Roosevelt said he would run for president and repeal Prohibition. -
The Cullen-Harrison Act
This step was super crucial in helping repeal the 18th Amendment. Roosevelt signed this act, which allowed the sale of beer with an alcohol content of up to 3.2%. This was a huge step at the time toward ending Prohibition. -
First Shipment gives more support
When the Cullen-Harrison Act, had passed this allowed legal beer shipments to be shipped into the U.S. again. When the shipments had come in this made more people want to legalize it. -
Congress and States
The 21st Amendment was passed by the House of Representatives. After it got passed it would have to go to the states for ratification. Utah became the first state to ratify it on April 7, 1993, which was huge at the time. -
Follow the Leader
After Utah had ratified it, many states followed in its footsteps, and only 3 states had rejected the amendment. When 46 of the states wanted it ratified this would speed up the process to repeal the 18th Amendment, because over 3/4ths wanted it back. -
Ratified
The 21st Amendment is officially ratified, marking the formal end of national Prohibition and the repeal of the 18th Amendment. -
Prohibition Ends
The same day the 21st Amendment is ratified, President Franklin D. Roosevelt also signs a proclamation that ends Prohibition. Alcohol could now be sold and produced again.