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The Ratification of the 18th Amendment
On January 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment was ratified, and thus, the Prohibition started. The Amendment banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of "intoxicating liquors". Under President Woodrow Wilson, the Amendment was passed and the -
National Prohibition Act
The National Prohibition Act, known informally as the Volstead Act, was passed to enforce the rules of the 18th Amendment. The act was passed by Congress after they voted to override President Woodrow Wilson's veto. -
The Purple Gang
The Founded in the 1920s, the Purple Gang became a mob of bootleggers and hijackers. They started off thieving and pick pocketing as young boys, but soon grew to commit armed robbery, loan sharking, and extortion. -
The 19th Amendment
On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, preventing any form of government from denying the right to vote to citizens on the basis of sex. Congress passed the amendment under President Woodrow Wilson. -
William McCoy
William McCoy became one of the most well known bootleggers when he sailed a schooner filled with 1500 cases of liquor from the Bahamas to Savannah, Georgia. -
Purple Gang Cleaners and Dyers Trial Begins
The Cleaners and Dyers War was started when members of the Purple Gang hired themselves out as hit men. They used bombing, arson, theft, and murder to get their way. During the trial, Harry Rosman testified under oath that the Purple Gang asked for $1000 a week for protection against violence. -
St. Valentine's Day Massacre
Seven members of George Moran's gang were shot and killed in a garage on the North side of Chicago, supposedly by men associated with Al Capone and dressed as police. This was the height of Chicago's gang war that made many people see the negatives to Prohibition. -
The Stock Market Crash
Prices of investments in Wall Street began to crash in early October. The market went into free fall and by October 29, the market had completely collapsed. Billions of dollars were lost and thousands of investors were wiped out. -
Cullen-Harrison Act
The Cullen-Harrison Act was enacted by Congress on March 21, 1933. The act was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and legalized the sale of beer and wine with an alcohol content of 3.2% by weight. This was a step in favor of taking away Prohibition. -
Repeal of the 18th Amendment, Ratification of the 21st
Utah became the 36th state to approve the repeal vote of the 18th Amendment that Congress sent out. Utah was the last state needed to put the repeal in the Constitution. This day was the end of the Prohibition.