1920s and Prohibition

By quincycallahan

  • States ratify the 16th Amendment

    passed by Congress in 1909 to establish a federal income tax — which reduces the government’s need to rely on revenue generated by taxing the alcohol industry (more than $200 million in 1910).

  • Rotary Club of Pittsburgh calls for a temporary prohibition of alcohol

    during World War I as a means of preserving wheat, corn, rye and barley used by distillers and brewers for the war effort.

  • Wartime Prohibition Act takes effect

    restricting the sale of beverages containing more than 2.75% alcohol.

  • The United States goes dry

    shutting down the country’s fifth-largest industry.

  • Warren G. Harding elected president

    He started as a small-town newspaper publisher, and worked his way up to U.S. Senator from Ohio. He eventually became a Republican presidential candidate. His promise to "return to normalcy" appealed to voters. He proposed lower taxes. He also put higher tariffs on foreign trade to help American companies. Harding chose a pro-business cabinet.

  • Amelia Earhart takes her first flying lessons

  • Babe Ruth became the first player to hit 60 homeruns in one year

  • Lindbergh Flys across the Atlantic

    Lindbergh was the first person to fly nonstop across the Atlantic. He flew because he heard there was an offer of $25,000 to anyone that would dare to fly nonstop. He flew 3,600 mile in 33 hours, after that he became a hero.

  • The Wall Street crash begins

    ushering in the Great Depression.

  • 21st Amendment repealing Prohibition is ratified