History Chapter: Prohibition Era (1919-1933)

Prohibition Era Overview

• Prohibition lasted from 1919 to 1933, prohibiting the transport and sale of alcohol in the United States.
• Established by the 18th Amendment, enforced through the Volstead Act (National Prohibition Act), which was initially vetoed by President Wilson but later passed by Congress.
• The Volstead Act officially defined intoxicants, clarifying what constituted illegal substances.

Support and Opposition

• Prohibition was largely supported by those living south of the Mason-Dixon Line and west of the Mississippi River.
• Major organizations advocating for prohibition included the Anti-Saloon League and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
• These groups shifted their focus from individual temperance to advocating for a national ban on alcohol, citing concerns over productivity, military discipline, and family stability.

Terminology

• States in favor of prohibition were referred to as "dries," while opponents were termed "wets."

Illegal Activities

• Speakeasies emerged as illegal bars that served bootlegged alcohol, catering to select patrons during the Prohibition Era.

Growing Discontent

• Over time, increasing public discontent about prohibition emerged, particularly among working-class men and groups like The Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform.
• Arguments against prohibition focused on rising underage drinking, government regulation issues, declining national revenue, and an increase in organized crime.

Repeal of Prohibition

• The negative impacts of prohibition, including strong resistance and insufficient funding for enforcement, led to the eventual repeal of the 18th Amendment.
• The 21st Amendment was passed in 1933, officially ending the Prohibition Era in America.