Video:Prohibition in the United States

Transcript:Prohibition in the United States

Overview of Prohibition

Prohibition was a period of nearly fourteen years of U.S. history in which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor was made illegal. It led to the first and only time an amendment to the U.S. Constitution was repealed. It was a time characterized by speakeasies, glamour, and gangsters, and a period of time in which even the average citizen broke the law. The push for Prohibition began in earnest in the nineteenth century. After the American Revolution, drinking was on the rise. To combat this, a number of societies were organized as part of a new temperance movement, which attempted to dissuade people from becoming intoxicated.

The Beginning of Prohibition

At first, these organizations pushed moderation, but after several decades, the movement's focus changed to complete prohibition of alcohol consumption. By 1916, over half of the U.S. states already had statutes that prohibited alcohol. In 1919, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibited the sale and manufacture of alcohol. While the 18th Amendment established prohibition, it was the Volstead Act (passed on October 28, 1919) that clarified the law.

Rise of Gangsters

There were, however, several loopholes for people to legally drink during Prohibition. A new breed of gangsters arose during this period. These people took notice of the amazingly high level of demand for alcohol within society and the extremely limited avenues of supply to the average citizen. Within this imbalance of supply and demand, gangsters saw profit. Al Capone in Chicago is one of the most famous gangsters of this time period.

The End of Prohibition

The anti-Prohibition movement gained strength as the 1920s progressed, often stating that the question of alcohol consumption was a local issue and not something that should be in the Constitution. Additionally, the stock market crash in 1929 and the beginning of the Great Depression started changing people's opinion. People needed jobs. The government needed money. Making alcohol legal again would open up many new jobs for citizens and additional sales taxes for the government. On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. The 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment, making alcohol once again legal. This was the first and only time in U.S. history that an amendment has been repealed.

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