-
Temperance Movement
The Temperance Movement promoted moderation and complete abstinence from alcohol. The earliest organization was founded in 1808 in Saratoga, New York, and by 1833 there were 6,000 societies formed in several states. Women led the charge with this movement, believing that "demon rum" had corrupted American culture, creating violence, immorality, and death. The main cause of this movement was the amount of Alcohol Abuse that was occurring. -
First Prohibition Law
Maine becomes the first state to pass a prohibition law in 1846. This eventually helped create the 18th Amendment because many other states followed suit by the time the Civil War began. -
Period: to
Prohibition Era
Prohibition is the legal prevention of the transportation, manufacture, and sale of any alcoholic beverage. This era lasted from 1919 to 1933, existing because of the 18th Amendment, and ending because of the 21st. Millions of Americans were willing to drink alcohol illegally, which led to the creation of bootlegging and speakeasies. Due to all of this, the Prohibition Era is remembered as a period of gangsters and the competition and violent battles between gangs. -
18th Amendment passed
On January 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment was ratified. It prohibited the making of, sale, and transportation of alcohol. The main goal was to help alleviate the amount of alcoholics, drunks, and the disorder and violence that it caused. The Anti-Saloon was backed by many women and Protestants and were a driving force behind the Prohibition. This Amendment would stand for about 13 years. -
Volstead Act
On October 28, 1919, Congress overrode President Woodrow Wilson's veto of the National Prohibition Act, more commonly known as the Volstead Act. This law was introduced by the House of Representatives so that they could define the process and procedures for banning alcoholic beverages and their production and distribution. This law lasted until the passing of the 21st Amendment in 1933. -
Bootlegging
Bootleggers were people that smuggled in illegal alcohol during the Prohibition Era. In order to be successful, these people found a way to sell millions of bottles of "medicinal" whiskey that was sold across drug store counters on either real or forged signatures. Bootleggers then eventually would make their own liquor from corn, and by the late 1920's, that had become a major supplier. This helped lead to the establishment of organized crime, which still exists today. -
Speakeasies
Due to saloons having to close down due to Prohibition, speakeasies were created. Instead of buying alcohol from a bootlegger, another option was to enter a private, unlicensed barroom. In order to gain entrance you had to give a password so that law enforcement wouldn't find out. Speakeasies ranged from fancy clubs with ballrooms to dingy basements and backrooms inside apartments. Men and women were allowed to drink together and Al Capone became a millionaire because of speakeasies. -
Cullen-Harrison Act
When Franklin D. Roosevelt took the office of President in March of 1933, he knew that the Volstead Act was unenforceable. Due to this, he signed the Cullen-Harrison Act, which amended the Volstead Act. The manufacturing and sale of low alcohol beer and wines was not legal. This eventually led to the ratification of the 21st Amendment in December of 1933 -
21st Amendment passed
The 21st Amendment was passed on December 5, 1933. It directly repealed the 18th Amendment, being the only amendment that has specifically repealed another amendment. Also, it is the only amendment that has been ratified by state conventions rather than by the state legislators. -
21st Amendment
This amendment officially repealed federal prohibition. However, it also gave states more leeway in the regulations of alcohol across state borders. States were able to regulate the transportation and importation of alcohol as long as the commerce clause of the Constitution wasn't violated.