In the early 19th century, the movement for the prohibition of alcohol began when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late 19th century, these temperance organizations had become a powerful political force. They campaigned on both the state and federal levels for a national liquor abstinence. The banning by several states of the manufacture or sale of alcohol influenced the federal government to do the same. The 18th Amendment, prohibiting the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes," was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification in December of 1917. The amendment achieved the necessary three-fourths majority of state ratification by January of 1919. Prohibition officially take effect on January 29, 1920.
To carry out the intent of the 18th Amendment, Congress passed the Volstead Act or the National Prohibition Act in October 1919. This was done over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. The Volstead Act was responsible for the creation of the special Prohibition unit of the Treasury Department. Although the unit destroyed thousands of illicit stills run by bootleggers, law enforcement agents could not do much to slow the flow of booze. During this time, organized crime flourished in America. Famous large-scale bootleggers like Al Capone and Tom Dennison built extensive criminal empires out of illegal distribution efforts. Speakeasies were also numerous and popular during the Prohibition years.
Prohibition began to loose it's support in the early 1930s. It failed to fully enforce sobriety and it cost the government billions of dollars. On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, repealing the 18th Amendment and bringing an era of prohibition to an end. Some states chose to stay dry for a period of time, and to this day there are still dry counties throughout the U.S..
Cheers to our freedom to toast !
Jessica
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